Exploring patient experiences with and attitudes towards hypertension at a private hospital in Uganda: a qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundHypertension is the leading risk factor for mortality worldwide and is more common in sub-Saharan Africa than any other region. Work to date confirms that a lack of human and material resources for healthcare access contributes to this gap. The ways in which patients’ knowledge and attitudes toward hypertension determine their engagement with and adherence to available care, however, remains unclear.MethodsWe conducted an exploratory, qualitative descriptive study to assess awareness, knowledge, and attitudes towards hypertension and its management at a large private hospital in Kampala. We interviewed 64 participants (29 with hypertension and 34 without, 1 excluded) in English. General thematic analysis using the Integrated Conceptual Health Literacy Model was used to iteratively generate themes and categories.ResultsWe identified three main themes: Timing of Hypertension Diagnosis, Aiming for Health Literacy, and the Influence of Knowledge on Behavior. Most participants with hypertension learned of their condition incidentally, speaking to the lack of awareness of hypertension as an asymptomatic condition. Drove nearly all participants to desire more information. However, many struggled to translate knowledge into self-management behaviors due to incomplete information and conflicting desires of participants regarding lifestyle and treatment.ConclusionsInternal patient factors had a substantial impact on adherence, calling attention to the need for educational interventions. Systemic barriers such as cost still existed even for those with insurance and need to be recognized by treating providers.

Adherence Clubs to Improve Hypertension Management in Nigeria: Clubmeds, a Feasibility Study

“…The qualitative data analysis provides a closer look at the challenges for patients in accessing care and adhering to the treatment. As in other studies [28][29][30][31], the present study found that drug cost, limited understanding and low health-seeking behavior are the main reasons for nonadherence to BP lowering medications.…”

Multidimensional Feature Classification of the Health Information Needs of Patients With Hypertension in an Online Health Community Through Analysis of 1000 Patient Question Records: Observational Study

“…The investigators mainly used questionnaires [9][10][11], in-depth interviews [12], and content analysis methods [13,14] to study the types of health information needs of specific populations. The study populations included elderly individuals [9], college students [15], pregnant and parturient women [16], and other populations, and the health problems involved were diabetes [17], hypertension [18], cancer [19], depression [20], and others. Related studies have shown that different populations have different web-based health information needs, which change with the course of the disease [10,12,21].…”

A qualitative exploration of the impact of knowledge and perceptions about hypertension in medication adherence in Middle Eastern refugees and migrants

“…This may prevent misunderstandings regarding the asymptomatic nature of the illness, necessity beliefs about medications, and promote medication adherence. 46 …”