CLINICAL INERTIA AND ADHERENCE IN THE CROATIAN RURAL AREA DAMAGED BY AN EARTHQUAKE. “THE SILENT KILLER HUNT”-CROATIAN SOCIETY OF HYPERTENSION PROJECT

Abstract

Objective: Adherence to medical advice is a major factor in treating hypertension. Motivation to implement lifestyle changes is as important as taking medications. To gain a better understanding of patient compliance our aim was to find out patients’ adherence to physicians’ medical advice. Design and method: A survey was conducted on a sample of 214 subjects as a part of a project ’The Silent Killer Hunt’, which targets populations at risk for developing hypertension (opportunistic screening). The participants were given a questionnaire containing two types of questions, the first one being about the recommendation they were or were not given by their general practitioner, and the second one about their subsequent change of behavior. Jamovi was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 94.7% have received a recommendation to use medication for hypertension and 106 (49.5%) people have confirmed that they take their medication regularly. On the other hand, only 46.5% of the surveyed participants have been advised to decrease their body weight. Increasement in physical activity was suggested to 55.3% and a total of 30.2% and 28.6%, have not been successful in reducing their body weight and increasing their physical activity, respectively. More than half of the subjects (63.2%) were educated about lowering their salt intake. Conclusions: Clinical inertia and poor adherence were found in this rural area. Education of physicians and nurses is equally important as the education of patients and according to our results, it is even more important in this remote and poor part of Croatia.