INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATION ON DRUG COMPLIANCE AND TREATMENT FOR HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the education that was given to patients diagnosed with hypertension on the correct use of their medications, their follow-up visits, and their compliance with treatment. It was also aimed to observe how blood pressure, health perception, and anxiety level changed after education. Methods: For this intervention study, a questionnaire form including sociodemographic information, hypertension history, Medication Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (MASES-SF), Health Perception Scale (PHS), Health Anxiety Scale (HAI), and Modified Morisky Drug Compliance Scale (MMS), was applied at the beginning. Voluntarily, one by one, patients were grouped into education and non-education. The education given was a summary prepared from various guidelines. The blood pressures were measured three months later, and the questionnaires were applied except for demographic data six months later. Results: There were 49 patients divided into each group. In the education group, the mean MASES-SF score (36.28±10.08) increased to 40.65±8.57 (p<0.001), while the MMS knowledge level (1.63±0.48) increased to 1.79±0.40 (p=0.021) and the motivation level (1.40±0.48) increased to 1.77±0.42 (p<0.001). HAI score (33.10±12.76) decreased to 32.24±11.23 after the education (p=0.304). Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly after six months (p=0.003; p=0.022, respectively) in the education group. There were no significant changes in the blood pressure and drug compliance of the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that the knowledge-motivation level, health perception, and drug compliance increased with education.