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Levels of compliance shown by hypertensive patients and their attitude toward their illness
1University of Oulu, Department of Nursing and Health Administration, University Hospital, Finland. tiina.lahdenpera@oulu.fi
Insights
Understanding patient compliance in hypertension treatment is key. Patients exhibit varied compliance levels and attitudes, requiring tailored healthcare professional support for effective self-management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Behavioral Medicine
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Part of the 'Patients' self-motivated control of hypertension' project.
- Focuses on understanding patient adherence in managing high blood pressure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define compliance, intention, activity, responsibility, and collaboration in hypertensive patient care.
- To explore patients' attitudes towards their hypertension and its treatment.
Main Methods:
- Intervention included a multimedia computer program and lifestyle counseling.
- Data collected via thematic interviews from 21 hypertensive patients.
- Content analysis used for data interpretation.
Main Results:
- Identified four compliance levels: subconscious, cognitive, action, and attitudinal.
- Discovered four patient attitudes: careless, serious, well-adjusted, and frustrated.
- Highlighted the diversity in patient experiences with hypertension management.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals must recognize individual patient compliance styles and attitudes.
- Tailored care and support are essential for effective hypertension management.
- Clinicians should also reflect on their own attitudes and the patient's role in the healthcare system.
Aim:
The aim of this paper is to describe hypertensive patients' compliance by finding out more specifically what compliance, intention, activity, responsibility and collaboration mean in the treatment of hypertensive patients. A further aim was to clarify their attitudes toward their illness.
Rationale:
This study is part of a project titled 'Patients' self-motivated control of hypertension.
Method:
The intervention consists of a multimedia computer program and effective lifestyle counselling. Nine male and 12 female patients from one municipality were included in an intervention programme. Data were collected through thematic interviews and analysed using content analysis.
Findings:
Four levels of compliance were found: subconscious, cognitive, action and attitudinal level. Patients also had four different ways of feeling about hypertension and its treatment: some were careless, some were serious, some adjusted well and yet others felt frustrated.
Conclusion:
Health care professionals should recognize each patient's way of complying with his/her treatment and his/her attitude toward the illness. Different patients need different kinds of care and support. In addition health care professionals should also recognize their own attitudes toward hypertension and the patient's position in the health care system.