The relationship between self-concept and adherence to medication regimens in patients with hypertension in Urmia, Iran

Hypertension is one of the most common risk factors for cardiovascular disease and premature mortality. Identifying of the factors that influence adherence to medication regimens can improve the quality of care in patients with hypertension. The purpose of this study is finding the relationship between cognitive self-concept and adherence to medication regimens in patients with high blood pressure. Using a descriptive correlational design, a convenience sample of 108 hypertensive patients were selected from Taleghani Hospital, affiliated with Urmia University of Medical Sciences in Iran. The two validated and reliable questionnaires of Cognitive Perception of Cardiovascular Healthy lifestyles and Adherence questionnaires were completed by each patient. A direct relationship between challenges to self-concept and adherence to prescribed medication regimen was noted (P < 0.01). Threat to self-concept had an inverse relationship to adherence (P < 0.01). In other words patients who faced more challenge and less threat to self-concept adhered more to their prescribed medication regimen. Nurses should be looking for strategies and interventions such as education and counseling to stop patients with hypertension from seeing their medication regimens as a threat and encounter deliberately and strongly with their treatment regimens as a challenge to increasing their adherence to medication regimens.