Evaluation of knowledge of medication use and self-efficacy of patients with hypertension covered by health centers in Ramsar in 2020

Since the vast majority of patients with hypertension have relatively low medication compliance and self-efficacy as well as have no adequate control over their blood pressure despite routine training, the aim of this study was to determine the knowledge of medication use and self-efficacy in patients with hypertension.

In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, 133 patients were selected through the convenience sampling method. Data were collected via questionnaires of demographic characteristics, abbreviated mental test (AMT), knowledge of medication use and self-efficacy in patients with hypertension. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 through Kruskal-Wallis, U Mann-Whitney and logistic regression tests.

The majority of study patients (74.4%) were 50-70 years old. Mean knowledge of medication use was 9.67±1.10 (moderate level) and mean self-efficacy was 360.03±96.59 (high level). There was a significant positive relationship between self-efficacy and status of knowledge of medication use in patients with hypertension (r = 0.407, P<0.001).

In this study, there was a significant relationship between self-efficacy status of knowledge of medication use in patients with hypertension. Therefore, health system policymakers can use appropriate educational interventions to raise knowledge of medication use and self-efficacy of patients to increase the likelihood of timely medication use in these patients.