Description Of Patients Characteristics

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge regarding management of self among patients with hypertension in selected hospitals in Chennai.

A total of 60 patients with hypertension in the selected hospitals were chosen for the study. Knowledge on management of self among patients with hypertension were assessed by using a structured interview schedule.

The maximum score awarded was 72, which was converted into a percentage score. The overall knowledge was categorized into adequate (75% and above), moderate (50–75%), and inadequate (50% and below) respectively. The current discussion is based on the objectives specified in the study.

Description of patients characteristics:

13.33% of the patients belonged to the age group of 35-45years, 33.33% of patients belonged to 46-55 years, 30.00% of the patients belonged to 56-65%years and 23.33% of the patients belong to the age group of more than 65years.

56.67% of the patients were male and 43.33% of the patients were female.

8.33% of the patients were non-literate, 30.00% of the patients belonged to primary education, and 26.67% of the patients belonged to secondary education, 16.67% of the patients belonged to higher secondary education and 18.33% of the patients belonged to collegiate education.

70.00% of the patients were employed, among which 18.33% of the patients were self employed, 20.00% of the patients belonged to government job, 31.67% of the patients were belonged to private job, and 30.00% of them were unemployed.

18.33% of the patients were earning less than Rs.5000, 38.33% of the patients were earning Rs5001-Rs10, 000, 43.33% of the patients were earning more than Rs10000.

13.33% of the patients were having the habit of smoking, 6.67%of the patients were having the habit of alcoholism, 8.33%of the patients have the habit of betal chewing, 20.00%of the patients have the habit of smoking and alcoholism, 51.67% of the patients do not having any habits.

23.33% of the patient’s were vegetarian, 73.33% of the patients were non-vegetarian, 3.33% of the patients were egg-vegetarian.

26.67% of the patients had history of hypertension for less than 1 year, 50.00% of the patients had history of hypertension between 1-5 years, 21.67% of the patients had history of hypertension between 5-10 years, 1.67% of the patients had history of hypertension more than 10 years.

50.00% of the patients were having family history of hypertension, 50.00% of the patients do not have family history of hypertension.

81.67% of the patients have received informations regarding management of self on hypertension, among which 46.67%of the patients have received informations from health care professionals, 10.0%of the patients have received information from relatives/friends, 8.33% of the patients have received informations from mass media, 18.33% of the patients have not received any informations regarding management of self on hypertension.

The result of the study as per the objectives are:

objective:1 The first objective was to assess the knowledge regarding management of self among patients with hypertension in selected hospitals in Chennai.

Assessment was done by using structured interview schedule. The descriptions of results of knowledge regarding management of self among patients with hypertension are as follows:

out of 60 patients,

40 % of the patients had knowledge on frequency of blood pressure monitoring.

61.3% of the patients had knowledge on steps to be followed while checking blood pressure.

52.2%of the patients had knowledge on variations in blood pressure

47.2% of the patients had knowledge about the time of reporting the changes to the physician.

72% and 58.3%of the patients had knowledge about the measures that taken to manage increased and decreased blood pressure respectively

63.8% and 66.9% of the patients had knowledge about the foods which to be added and which to be avoided for patients with hypertension respectively.

57.6% and 67.9% of the patients had knowledge about the measures taken to restrict salt, and uses of restricting oil in the diet respectively.

58.6% and 41.6% of the patients had knowledge about the exercises that helps in maintaining blood pressure and measures taken to maintain body weight respectively.

58.3% of the patients had knowledge that adopting the life style modifications in day today life helps in controlling their blood pressure.

70.4% of the patients had knowledge on frequency of medical checkup.

53.6% of the patients had knowledge about the warning signs of hypertension, which needs medical assistance.

From the above results the investigator felt that, out of 60 patients, majority 72% of the patients are having knowledge about the measures that taken to manage increased blood pressure, and at the same time only 40% of the patients had knowledge about the frequency of blood pressure monitoring.

So the overall results showed that majority of patients had moderate knowledge 45% and 14% of patients had inadequate knowledge and only 1.67% of patients had adequate knowledge regarding management of self on hypertension.

This result was supported by a study conducted by Mathew et al (2001) assess the knowledge regarding importance of lifestyle modifications among patients with hypertension. The study was conducted among 200 patients being OPD patients and mainly found that majority of the patients (100) had moderate knowledge, 30 patients had adequate knowledge, and 70 patients had inadequate knowledge.

The above finding showed that the investigators first assumption of knowledge regarding the management of self among patients with hypertension will vary from adequate to inadequate was proven correct.

The second objective is to associate the knowledge regarding management of self with selected demographic variables among patients with hypertension.

Association of demographic variables with knowledge regarding management of self among patients with hypertension shows that there was no significant association between the knowledge and variables such as age in years, gender, family monthly income, habits and dietary pattern, duration of illness, family history, and received information regarding management of self on hypertension as the P value for the chi square test was more then 0.05 for all the association analyzed. However education and occupational status had statistically associated with the level of knowledge at P value < 0.05.

The findings of the table 4.1 and 4.2 shows that,

The patients who have completed primary and secondary schooling had inadequate knowledge. Whereas the patient who have completed their collegiate education had adequate knowledge.

Out of 28 patients, majority of the patients(16) who had inadequate knowledge were unemployed. Out of 32 patients, majority (29) of the patients who had moderate knowledge and one who had adequate knowledge were employed.

The patients who had adequate knowledge and moderate level of knowledge were having their illness more than 10 years.

This result is supported by a descriptive study conducted by Andrew et al (2000) regarding adoption of lifestyle modifications among patients (200) with hypertension. The result showed that 53% of the patients had positive association on educational status and on their employment (P<0.001).

The present study finding is supported by a correlation study conducted by Kevin R. Huggins (2010) regarding the assessment of knowledge regarding self management practices on hypertension among 120 patients by means of a self administered questionnaire. The results showed that there was a significant association among patients with hypertension along with their educational status (p<0.01).

The above study finding showed that the investigator second assumption of knowledge regarding management of self among patients with hypertension will be influenced by the selected demographic variables, was proven correct.