Promoting compliance with antihypertensive medication

One of the key areas identified for action in 'The Health of the Nation' (Department of Health, 1992) is a reduction in the number of deaths from cerebrovascular accident. The major precursor of stroke is elevated blood pressure, and although efficacious medication exists for the control of hypertension, non-compliance in patients with this condition is notoriously high. This article examines ways to successfully address this problem and reduce morbidity. Consideration of psychosocial variables emphasizes that compliance with antihypertensive medication regimens is a multifactorial problem, but one that can be solved. Nurses, mindful of barriers to compliance, can encourage and support the patient in taking the prescribed antihypertensive medication.