ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study was to search the effect of knowledge about hypertension and socio-demographic characteristics on controlling high blood pressure levels among patients diagnosed with hypertension. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The study population was obtained from subjects diagnosed with hyper- tension and applied to primary health care centers in Yozgat province center, in 2013. The subjects with informed consent were enrolled into the study (n = 485). The data were collected via 15-item hypertension knowledge questionnaire and personal information survey prepared in accordance with the literature. The knowledge level was classified as follows: low (b8 points); moderate (8–11 points); adequate (≥12 points). Results: Frequencies of low, moderate and high level of knowledge about hypertension were 31.3%, 62.1% and 6.6% respectively. The effects of other socio-demographic parameters on the knowledge level were not significant even after multivariate analysis. Knowledge level was positively related to ratio of subjects with blood pressure under control but not significant (p N 0.05). Conclusion: Majority of the subjects had inadequate knowledge about hypertension, two third of the subjects did not imply significant life style modification for hypertension.

Keywords: Hypertension Knowledge Primary health care