Musinguzi Geofrey, Anthierens Sibyl, Nuwaha Fred, Van Geertruyden Jean-Pierre, Wanyenze Rhoda K, Bastiaens Hilde
Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Int J Hypertens. 2018 Apr 26;2018:8307591. doi: 10.1155/2018/8307591. eCollection 2018.
Hypertension is a global public health challenge and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hypertension control rates are low worldwide, and delay in seeking care is associated with increased mortality.
In a qualitative study, known hypertensive patients were interviewed to explore factors influencing compliance and health seeking behaviour (HSB). Data was analyzed following a semantic thematic analysis approach.
Patients sought various channels of care for their hypertension. Self-medication and access to antihypertensive drugs with or without prescription were common as well as use of herbal remedies. Regular monitoring of blood pressure was not a common practice. Factors influencing HSB were related to health systems and the patient socioeconomic and structural environment. The main system issues were related to availability and attitudes of staff and shortage of supplies and medicines. The patient factors were related to awareness, perceived severity, perceived effectiveness of therapy, adverse effects, and perceived fears of lifelong dependence on medicines. The patient socioeconomic status played a role as did the marketing of traditional medicine.
Patients seek varied channels of care for their hypertension. Strategies to address the multifactorial dimensions that affect HSB are needed to improve hypertension control in this population.
高血压是一项全球性的公共卫生挑战，也是心血管疾病发病和死亡的主要危险因素。全球范围内高血压控制率较低，延迟就医与死亡率增加相关。
在一项定性研究中，对已知的高血压患者进行访谈，以探究影响依从性和就医行为（HSB）的因素。采用语义主题分析方法对数据进行分析。
患者通过多种渠道治疗高血压。自行用药以及获取有或无处方的降压药很常见，使用草药疗法也很常见。定期监测血压并非普遍做法。影响就医行为的因素与卫生系统以及患者的社会经济和结构环境有关。主要的系统问题与工作人员的可及性和态度以及物资和药品短缺有关。患者因素与认知、感知的严重程度、感知的治疗效果、不良反应以及对终身依赖药物的感知恐惧有关。患者的社会经济地位以及传统医学的营销也起到了一定作用。
患者通过多种渠道治疗高血压。需要采取策略来应对影响就医行为的多因素层面，以改善该人群的高血压控制情况。
