Research Articles
Expectations of hypertensive patients attending the GOPC of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar
Submitted: 24 May 2015 | Published: 01 January 2016
About the author(s)
A. N. Gyuse, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, NigeriaP. Adat, Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
N. E. Udonwa, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
U. J. Ndebbio, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
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Background: Hypertensive patients’ expectations are a major determinant of treatment outcomes. This study was undertaken to determine the pattern of expectations of hypertensive patients as a basis for modification of the care given to them.
Methodology: This was a descriptive hospital study involving 260 hypertensive patients aged above 20 years, randomly selected. Study participants were engaged in patient-centred consultation during each visit. Their socio-demographic characteristics were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, while the expectations of the hypertensive patients were also assessed. Their blood pressure was measured on three (3) occasions at two-monthly intervals. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20.0 and data were presented in tables.
Results: The majority of the respondents (161, 61.9%) were females while the males numbered 99 (38.1%). Most (219) of the respondents were older than 40 years and had some form of education. The majority of the respondents needed information on hypertension (85.3%), expected that the hypertensive medication they would be given wouldlower their blood pressure (88.5%), and expected a cure of their hypertension (70.4%). There were some respondents who did not have any expectations.
Conclusion: Hypertensive patients have varying illness expectations that can be explored using the patient-centred consultation strategy to improve treatment outcomes.
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