TREATMENT SATISFACTION AND ATTITUDES TOWARD TAKING MEDICATIONS AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY FROM PALESTINE
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Date
2025-02-13
Authors
Kareman, Yaseen
Journal Title
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Publisher
An-Najah National University
Abstract
Background: Millions of patients are living with hypertension worldwide. This study aimed to assess the attitudes of hypertensive patients toward taking antihypertensive medications and their satisfaction with the treatment.
Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional design with a questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. This study was conducted in the primary healthcare centers of the Ministry of Health in Nablus, West Bank, Palestine. In addition to the demographic and clinical variables, the questionnaire also included the Arabic translated and culturally adapted Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10) and the Arabic version of the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM).
Results: In this study, 356 patients with hypertension were included. More than half of the patients (57.6%, n = 205) were on amlodipine. Additionally, valsartan was used by 117 (32.9%) of the patients. The vast majority of the patients (95.2%) believed that they benefited from their antihypertensive drugs, and in their opinion, the benefits of their antihypertensive drugs outweighed the drawbacks. The vast majority of the patients (95.2 %) believed that they benefited from their antihypertensive drugs, and in their opinion, the benefits of their antihypertensive drugs outweighed the drawbacks. The Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10) measures the attitudes and adherence of hypertensive patients toward their antihypertensive medications via 10 statements. The DAI-10 scores were affected by the time since diagnosis (p = 0.004), presence of a documented food or drug allergy (p < 0.001), body mass index (p = 0.004), perceived effectiveness of the antihypertensive medications (p = 0.010), side effects (p = 0.001), convenience (p = 0.040), and global satisfaction scores (p < 0.001). The perceived effectiveness of antihypertensive medications was affected by side effect scores (p = 0.002), convenience scores (p < 0.001), and global satisfaction scores (p < 0.001). The global satisfaction scores were affected by the time since diagnosis (p = 0.008), DAI-10 score (p < 0.001), perceived effectiveness of antihypertensive medications (p < 0.001), and side effects (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: The findings of this study revealed positive attitudes and high levels of satisfaction with antihypertensive medications among patients, especially with respect to the perceived effectiveness and convenience of antihypertensive medications. The time elapsed since diagnosis with hypertension, the presence of documented allergies, and high BMI are important factors that can predict negative attitudes and low satisfaction with treatment. Healthcare providers and decision makers should consider measures to improve, maintain, and support positive attitudes and satisfaction with treatment among hypertensive patients.
Keywords: Attitudes, Satisfaction, Hypertension, Antihypertensive medications, Treatment, Cardiovascular disease, Primary healthcare