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Self-initiated modification of hypertension treatment in response to perceived problems
S H Wallenius1, K K Vainio, M J Korhonen
1Department of Social Pharmacy, University of Kuopio, Finland.
Insights
Many patients with hypertension modify their drug instructions, often due to treatment problems. Addressing these issues may improve adherence to prescribed hypertension therapy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Patient Adherence
Background:
- Patient-initiated modification of drug instructions is common in managing chronic conditions.
- Understanding factors influencing adherence to hypertension therapy is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of patients altering their prescribed drug instructions for hypertension.
- To investigate the relationship between perceived treatment problems and the modification of hypertension medication regimens.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1035 patients receiving care at a hypertension clinic.
- Data were collected from 623 patients self-reporting current use of antihypertensive medication.
Main Results:
- 36% of patients reported modifying their antihypertensive drug dosage or number of medications.
- Modification rates decreased with increasing patient age.
- Patients reporting one or more treatment problems had a 3.5 times higher odds of modifying their regimen (95% CI: 2.12–5.67).
- The prevalence of modification increased with the number of reported problems across all demographics.
Conclusions:
- Perceived difficulties with hypertension drug taking significantly influence the rate at which patients modify their treatment instructions.
- Addressing patient-reported problems is essential for improving adherence to hypertension therapy.
Objective:
To assess the prevalence of patient-initiated modification of drug instructions and the association between different classes of problems and the modification of hypertension therapy.
Design And Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, all patients (n = 1215) who had been examined at a hypertension clinic during a 1-year period were surveyed. The response rate to the questionnaire was 85%. Of the 1035 respondents, 623 currently taking antihypertensive medication (self-report) were included in the study.
Results:
Of the patients taking antihypertensive drugs, 36% admitted that they had tried to manage their condition with a lower dosage and/or fewer drugs than prescribed. The percentage of patients who modified their drug regimen decreased with increasing age. One or more problems with the treatment of hypertension were reported by 79% of the respondents. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for modification among patients who reported 1 or more problems compared with those not reporting any problem was 3.5 (2.12 to 5.67). The prevalence of modification increased with the number of problems; this was seen in all age groups and among men and women.
Conclusions:
Perceived problems in drug taking in the treatment of hypertension have an important impact on the prevalence of modifying drug instructions.