The Effect of Training and Phone Counselling Provided to Hypertension Patients on their Medication Adherence and Rational Drug Use: A Single-blind Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a chronic disease characterised by high blood pressure, which is an important public health problem that causes serious complications. It is very important to provide training and remote telephone counselling to patients for them to comply with the drug treatment of hypertension disease and to comply with the principles of rational drug use. Aim: This study aimed to define the effect of training and phone counselling provided to hypertension patients on their medication adherence and rational drug use. Methods: The study was conducted randomised controlled as a single-blind experimental study between July 2021 and June 2022. The study universe consisted of hypertension patients admitted to hospital, and the sample consisted of 92 patients. The block randomisation method was used. The study data were collected using a Patient Identification Form; the Medication Adherence Self-efficacy Scale; and the Rational Drug Use Scale. The experimental group received training once, in addition to a total of four phone counsellings (week 2-4-8-12). Results: According to the group-by-time interaction of control/experimental group patients, a statistical difference was found between the median scores of the Medication Adherence Self-efficacy Scale and the Rational Drug Use Scale (p<0.001). The pre-test median of the Medication Adherence Self-efficacy Scale of the experimental group patients was 30.00, and the post-test median was 46.00. The pre-test median of the Rational Drug Use Scale of the experimental group patients was 43.00, and the post-test median was 68.00. Conclusion: In the study, it was determined that the application of education and telephone counselling to hypertension patients increased patients’ medication compliance and rational drug use. In systolic-diastolic blood pressure levels, which are critical for hypertension patients, it was determined that the application of education and telephone counselling significantly decreased the blood pressure of patients.