High Blood Pressure Knowledge Research Articles

Knowledge on blood pressure control among cardiac patients – a descriptive study

This study focuses on cardiac patients’ knowledge of high blood pressure. Blood pressure (BP) beyond 140/90 mm Hg is considered to be hypertension. It is closely linked to unfavorable conditions like heart diseases, renal disease and vascular diseases. Since there will be 1.6 billion adults affected by hypertension globally by 2025, It is anticipated that the difficulties in managing hypertension and preventing the appearance of these latter consequences would persist. According to projections, cardiovascular disease would account for the majority of fatalities and disabilities in India, killing 2.6 million people by the year 200, or 54% of all cardiovascular deaths.

Awareness and risk burden of diabetes mellitus in a rural community of Ekiti State, South-Western Nigeria.

SummaryObjectiveIn recent times, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has had a rapid increase in developing countries as a result of changing lifestyles among the people. This study was therefore aimed to investigate the level of awareness of DM and its associated risk factors in Afao: a rural community located in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Ekiti State, Nigeria.DesignThe study was descriptive cross-sectional in design. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied to recruit respondents who are residents in the community. Two hundred and one individuals were involved in this community-based study. Information was obtained using a modified WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk surveillance. The questionnaire included questions that assessed socio-demographic characteristics, diabetic risk factors and anthropometric measures of respondents.ResultOf the 134 (66.7%) respondents aware of DM, only an average of 43.9% had knowledge of its risk factors. Respondent’s body mass index was significantly associated (P < 0.01) with knowledge of overweight/obesity as overweight (52.9%), grade 1 obese (62.5%) and morbid obese (100%) respondents had no knowledge of their status as risk factors for DM. Also, respondent’s blood pressure status showed a significant association (P = 0.099) with respondent’s knowledge of high blood pressure, 62.5% of those unaware of their blood pressure status had no knowledge of high blood pressure as a diabetes risk factor. Respondent’s age (P = 0.024) and diet; daily vegetable servings (P = 0.015) and cooking oil (P = 0.05) showed significant association with the occurrence of the disease in 14.4% respondents previously diagnosed.ConclusionThis study shows a need to improve on the level of awareness of diabetes risk factors in Afao. Routine measurement of blood glucose levels for adults, community health education and enlightenment strategies through the ministry of health on the awareness of diabetes are highly recommended for the Afao community.

Abstract TP169: Knowledge of Hypertension as a Stroke Risk Factor and Use of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring. A Preliminary Report From Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Study

Background: Self-monitoring blood pressure (BP) among persons with hypertension is associated with lower BP. The prevalence of BP self-monitoring and factors that may predict this behavior in the early post-acute stroke setting are unknown. Our aim was to identify whether knowledge of high BP as a stroke risk factor, social support, or primary care visits would be independently associated with BP self-monitoring 30 days after discharge in stroke patients. Methods: We utilized data from consenting intervention participants in the Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Study, who attended the post-discharge clinic visit, and had a 30-day follow-up call (N=528). The primary outcome was self-reported BP monitoring assessed at the 30-day call. The clinic visit included assessment of risk factor knowledge, social support and other clinical and neurological factors. Odds ratios were obtained using logistic mixed models that adjusted for confounders classified as demographic characteristics and clinical factors. Results: Among 528 patients (mean age 67 (SD=14), 50.9% female, 80.1% white), 435 (82%) reported self-monitored BP at 30 days. Fifty-seven percent of those who noted high BP as a stroke risk factor monitored BP vs 43% of those who did not acknowledge this risk factor. Knowledge of BP as risk factor was significantly associated with monitoring after adjustment for demographic, but not after adjustment for clinical factors (Table). Those with social support and recent PCP visits also had higher odds of self-monitoring than those without support or PCP visits, respectively, though estimates were highly imprecise. Conclusions: Among participants, acknowledging high BP is a stroke risk factor may lead to greater use of self-home BP monitoring at 30 days, although the magnitude of this effect is diminished when adjusted for having a history of hypertension. The COMPASS Study will determine whether BP self-monitoring leads to improved BP control at 90 days.

Hypertension (HTN) Knowledge and with Its Associated Factors: About 456 Outpatients Seen in Cardiology Department in University Hospital (UH) Gabriel Tour&amp;#233;—Bamako (Mali)

Background: High Blood Pressure (HBP) is high prevalent among adult population in Bamako, but little is known about factors associated with knowledge. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study involving patients aged 15 years and more with a first classification in normal blood pressure (HTN-) and high blood pressure (HTN+), and Second classification inpatients without knowledge (who answered No) (K-) and patients with knowledge (who answered Yes) (K+). A logistic regression was performed to look up predictors among different variables. Results: The sample involved 456 patients with a mean age of 51.39 years and 65.1% of female. The age group 45 - 59 years old made 32.5% and unschooled patients 60.3%. Patients with HBP accounted for 69.7% and those reporting to know about it 67.3%. HTN- and HTN+ differed significantly except for HR, height, sex and level of schooling. HBP prevalence increased with age up to 74 years. Regarding knowledge, sex, age group and number of FDRs did not differ significantly. High education level and duration of HBP was predictive of knowledge with an OR of 1.186 [CI 0.058 - 0.796] and 1.192 [CI 0.332 - 4.275] respectively. Conclusions: Our study provided data on HBP knowledge among outpatients with high educational level and HBP duration associated with better knowledge on HBP.

Conocimientos de hipertensión en una población hipertensa colombiana

Background. Patients' knowledge of high blood pressure is a predictor of disease control. Knowledge about hypertension has barely been studied in the Colombian population suffering high blood pressure. Such knowledge must be assessed to facilitate educational intervention for improving hypertension control. Objective. Ascertaining knowledge about high blood pressure in a Colombian hypertensive population. Materials and methods. A questionnaire was developed and content validated by experts from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the Virrey Solis IPS's Research Committee. The questionnaire was used with 150 hypertensive patients in face-to-face interviews during their medical visits. Results. 70% of the surveyed population knew that hypertension is a preventable disease; however, barely 48% knew that it cannot be cured. Only 23% knew that, in most cases, high blood pressure does not cause headaches and 44% did not know that medication should never be suspended, even when there might be a lack of symptoms. Good knowledge was shown about lifestyle modifications and complications arising from high blood pressure whilst the risk of an ophthalmological complication was the least known. People having received less formal education and those having had a recent diagnosis had less knowledge. Conclusions. Severe deficiencies were revealed in the surveyed population regarding their knowledge about high blood pressure. Doctors and healthcare teams must play a more active role in patients' education to improve their knowledge concerning such serious disorder.

The Effect of a Community-Based Self-Help Multimodal Behavioral Intervention in Korean American Seniors With High Blood Pressure

Great strides have been made in improving heart health in the United States during the last 2 decades, yet these strides have not encompassed many ethnic minority populations. There are significant health disparity gaps stemming from both a paucity of valid research and a lack of culturally sensitive interventions. In particular, many Korean Americans with chronic illnesses encounter difficulty navigating the healthcare system because of limited health literacy. The effect of a multimodal Self-Help Intervention Program on the Control of High Blood Pressure (HBP) was tested in a community-based clinical trial for Korean American seniors. Of 440 seniors enrolled, 369 completed the study (184 in the intervention group and 185 in the control group; mean age = 70.9±5.3 years). The intervention group received 6 weekly educational sessions on HBP management skill building, including health literacy training, followed by telephone counseling and home blood pressure (BP) monitoring for 12 months. Findings support that the Self-Help Intervention Program on the Control of HBP was effective in controlling BP in this ethnic/linguistic minority population. The BP control rates for the intervention and control groups were 49.5% vs. 43.2% at baseline, 58.5% vs. 42.4% at 6 months, 67.9% vs. 52.5% at 12 months, and 54.3% vs. 53.0% at 18 months. Significant changes were observed over time in some psychobehavioral outcomes, including self-efficacy for BP control, medication adherence behavior, HBP knowledge, and depression. The study findings suggest that the multimodal Self-Help Intervention Program on the Control of HBP is effective at promoting optimal HBP control for this ethnic/linguistic minority population. NCT00406614.

Storytelling Slide Shows to Improve Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Knowledge and Self-Efficacy: Three-Year Results Among Community Dwelling Older African Americans

This study combined the African American tradition of oral storytelling with the Hispanic medium of Fotonovelas. A staggered pretest posttest control group design was used to evaluate four Storytelling Slide Shows on health that featured community members. A total of 212 participants were recruited for the intervention and 217 for the comparison group from residents of senior affordable housing complexes located in Washington, DC, and Maryland. Participants significantly increased their eating decision scores as well as their knowledge of high blood pressure between pre- and postassessment (both p values <.001) versus no change among comparison participants These findings suggest that participants mastered the importance of food selection, physical activity, and stress management. Self-efficacy was measured by two indexes, each containing 15 items on confidence in performing diabetes and high blood pressure management behaviors. Significant pre–post increases occurred in diabetes and in high blood pressure self-efficacy in the intervention (both p values <.000) but not the comparison group. Increasing age was positively associated with increases in self-efficacy while health literacy was inversely associated with self-efficacy increases. These results suggest that the Storytelling Slide Shows and the skill building activities were of benefit in increasing self-efficacy, especially among the oldest participants and those with the lowest health literacy. A community health education policy that makes this approach more widely available has the potential to reduce learning disadvantages in older, lower health literacy populations, in a way that reduces health disparities while increasing community involvement.

Knowledge and awareness of high blood pressure in Ward F, Ifako-Ijaiye local government area, Lagos State, Nigeria

AbstractObjectives: In Nigeria, most people living with an elevated blood pressure are unaware of it until they suffer complications. The aim of this study was to determine levels of awareness of high blood pressure in Ward F, Ifako-Ijaiye local government area, Lagos, Nigeria.Design: A multistage sampling technique was used to select 250 participants as the study population.Setting and subjects: Trained interviewers administered questionnaires to collect information from the participants and measured their blood pressure to determine whether or not they had the correct information on their blood pressure readings.Outcome measures: The questionnaire included questions on respondents' knowledge of high blood pressure, sources of information or knowledge, awareness of blood pressure status and blood pressure measurement.Results: Radio was found to be the most utilised source of information on high blood pressure. The level of awareness of high blood pressure was 79.2%, while 21.6% of participants were aware...

Development and validation of the high blood pressure-focused health literacy scale

ObjectiveWhile the role of health literacy in chronic disease management is well documented, few intervention studies have been reported. A major barrier to designing and implementing such interventions is the lack of valid health literacy tools. This study developed and tested a novel health literacy scale for individuals with high blood pressure (HBP). MethodsA two-step design process was used: In the construction phase, focus group studies and a literature review were conducted to generate a pool of items. The testing phase involved a psychometric evaluation and pilot-testing of the scale on hypertensive Korean Americans (n=386). The end product was a HBP-health literacy scale (HBP-HLS) with two essential domains, print literacy and functional health literacy. ResultsPsychometric testing indicated that the scale was reliable (Kuder–Richardson-20 coefficient=0.98), valid (content validity index ≥0.8), and significantly correlated with theoretically selected variables (education, r=0.67, p<0.01; HBP knowledge, r=0.33, p<0.01). ConclusionThe HBP-HLS demonstrated its utility for evaluating HBP management interventions in the community setting. Practice implicationsUtilizing the HBP-HLS should be considered as a potential tool for improving health literacy and evaluating intervention studies in the context of HBP management.

Psychometric Evaluation of Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Subscale

Medication adherence is an essential part of the management and control of high blood pressure (HBP). Although the Hill-Bone Medication Adherence (HBMA) scale is one of the most frequently used instruments for measuring HBP medication adherence, the psychometric properties of the scale have never been tested among Korean Americans, a population that experiences a disproportionately high prevalence of HBP. Therefore, the objective of this study is to validate a Korean version of the HBMA subscale (HBMA-K). We used two, independent samples of Korean Americans (KAs) (combined n=525) who participated in community-based intervention trials for HBP control. To develop the HBMA-K, the original scale was translated into Korean and then back translated into English. Reliability was assessed by calculating the Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was done to assess construct validity. We also calculated the Pearson's correlation coefficients between the scale and theoretically driven variables such as blood pressure, knowledge, and HBP belief to test concurrent validity. The EFA revealed a one-factor solution with eight items, explaining 35.4% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha was .80. The 8-item HBMA-K scale was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (BP) (r=.18, p<.01), diastolic BP (r=.24, p<.01), HBP knowledge (r=-.13, p<.01), and HBP belief score (r=-.18, p<.05). The 8-item HBMA-K scale is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring medication adherence among KAs with HBP. It can be easily administered at community and clinical settings to screen hypertensive patients with low medication adherence.

Development and Evaluation of a Hypertension Knowledge Test for Korean Hypertensive Patients

Patients' knowledge concerning high blood pressure (HBP) is a useful outcome measure in HBP education programs. However, valid and easy-to-use HBP knowledge assessment tools are scarce. The purpose of the study was to validate the HBP Knowledge Test (HKT) in two independent samples of Korean Americans with HBP (N=885). A total of 61% of the sample were women with a mean age of about 61 years (standard deviation=11.0) and 44% reported some college education or greater. Psychometric and item response theory analyses identified 21 items that fit a unidimensional model to form the HKT. Internal consistency was acceptable, with Cronbach's α=0.70. Construct validity testing revealed that patients with controlled BP had significantly higher HKT scores than those with uncontrolled BP (P=.012). The HKT is a simple questionnaire for assessing and monitoring HBP knowledge. It is sensitive to differences in blood pressure control status and should provide a valid, reliable, and standardized measure of HBP knowledge with wide relevance.

High Blood Pressure Knowledge Among Primary Care Patients with Known Hypertension: A North Carolina Family Medicine Research Network (NC-FM-RN) Study

We sought to assess primary care patients' current knowledge about various aspects of high blood pressure (BP). We mailed a questionnaire to 700 hypertensive patients enrolled in a practice-based research network cohort from 24 practices in North Carolina. We determined percentages of respondents (total and by subgroups) incorrectly answering each of 6 questions pertaining to various aspects of high BP. We then examined bivariate and multivariate associations with answering 2 or more items incorrectly ("lower hypertension knowledge"). We received 530 completed surveys (76% response rate). Twenty-six percent (95% CI, 22-30) of respondents did not know that most of the time people with high BP do not feel it. Twenty-two percent (95% CI, 18-26) either were not sure whether anything could be done to prevent high BP or believe that there is nothing that can be done. Nineteen percent (95% CI, 16-22) either believe taking medications will cure high BP or are not sure whether it will. Twenty-two percent (95% CI, 19-26) of respondents had overall lower hypertension knowledge. Independent associations with lower hypertension knowledge were African-American race (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.10-2.86), having less than high school education (odds ratio, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.34-4.41), and history of stroke/mini-stroke (odds ratio, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.00-3.75). Patients may need to be taught the difference between curing hypertension and treating it with medications. Efforts to educate the public that lifestyle modifications can prevent hypertension and that it usually causes no symptoms need to continue. It seems especially important to develop messages that reach African-Americans and people with less education.

Does Knowledge Matter?

To examine predictors of intentional and unintentional nonadherence to antihypertensive medication regimens and their relationships to blood pressure outcomes. Although poor adherence to medical regimens is a major concern in the care of patients with high blood pressure (HBP), our understanding of the complex behavior related to adherence is limited. Moreover, few studies have been devoted to understanding adherence issues in ethnic minority groups, such as the interplay between cultural beliefs and HBP medication-taking behaviors. A cross-sectional analysis was performed to assess the factors affecting nonadherence to antihypertensive medication regimens. The data used in this analysis came from an ongoing HBP intervention trial involving middle-aged (40-64 years) Korean Americans with HBP. A total of 445 Korean Americans with HBP was enrolled in the trial at baseline. Of these, 208 participants who were on antihypertensive medication were included in the analysis. Using multivariate logistic regression, we examined theoretically selected variables to assess their relationships to intentional and unintentional nonadherence in this sample. Approximately 53.8% of the subjects endorsed 1 or more types of nonadherent behaviors. After controlling for demographic variables, multivariate analysis revealed that a greater number of side effects from the medication (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 to 1.33) and a lower level of HBP knowledge (adjusted OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.99) were significantly associated with intentional nonadherence. Unintentional nonadherence was less strongly associated with the study variables examined in the analysis. Our findings indicate that intentional nonadherence to antihypertensive medication that stems from incomplete knowledge of HBP treatment is prevalent among middle-aged Korean Americans with HBP. The results highlight the strong need for an intervention that focuses on increasing patient knowledge about HBP, including the benefits and side effects of antihypertensive medication. This type of focused intervention may help reduce intentional nonadherence to antihypertensive medications and ultimately result in achieving adequate BP control in this high-risk group.

Hypertensive patients' knowledge of high blood pressure

Objective - To investigate hypertensive patients' understanding of the circulatory system, in particular high blood pressure.Design - Semi-structured audio-taped interviews of patients immediately after a regular follow-up appointment with their physician.Setting - A primary health care centre and a specialist clinic (hypertension unit) in southern Sweden.Patients - 33 hypertensive patients, consecutively selected. Main outcome measure - Focus was set on the exploration of patients' understanding/knowledge.Results - In spite of a long history of hypertensive care, on average ten years, patients had a less than satisfactory understanding of their condition. Most patients knew their blood pressure values, but very few were able to give an account of what high blood pressure implies in functional terms. Knowledge of high blood pressure seems mainly to be derived from sources other than the health care system, in particular from the mass media. Knowledge of the risks associated with hypertension was quite good, as was the insight into how these risks could be managed.Conclusion - An assessment of patient knowledge of high blood pressure ought to be a starting point for educational strategies that aim to deepen patients' understanding of their state of health.

Spouse Similarities in High Blood Pressure Knowledge: Implications for Control of High Blood Pressure

This study describes the general knowledge about high blood pressure of husbands and wives using data from all 1,260 white spouse pairs from the 1982 Connecticut Blood Pressure Survey and examines the relationship between high blood pressure knowledge and control of hypertension. We found the average level of knowledge to be high; about 70% of the items were answered correctly. The correlation between spouses' knowledge about high blood pressure was significantly high (r = .41). Multiple regression analysis was used to control for other variables that might influence the spousal correlation in knowledge. When controlling for education, age, socioeconomic status, and hypertension status of both spouses, the correlation between spouses' knowledge remained significant (r = .24). Respondents' knowledge and spouses' knowledge about high blood pressure were significantly related to high blood pressure control among hypertensive persons, particularly to being aware of hypertension and being in current treatment.

The Physician and Hypertension

HYPERTENSION is a disease affecting 23 million Americans—a public health menace of great magnitude. We have the means to control hypertension in the great majority of patients, and there is convincing evidence that such control will reduce morbidity and mortality. With such knowledge and capability, why do we still have 50% of hypertensives unaware that they have the disease, while many others are not on adequate treatment (or any treatment).¹Where lies the fault? With the patient, the doctor, or both? The National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) has undertaken to coordinate a National Program of Information and Education to educate the public and alert the medical profession to the problem of "hidden" hypertension. As part of this program, the NHLI contracted with Louis Harris and Associates to conduct a survey of current public awareness and knowledge of high blood pressure. The survey was carefully designed and carried out