Educational intervention on knowledge of hypertension and lifestyle/dietary modification among hypertensive patients attending a tertiary health facility in Nigeria

Abstract

Patients’ knowledge of hypertension and treatment has been found to affect health outcomes of hypertension. This study aimed to  assess the impact of therapeutic patients’ education on knowledge of hypertension and lifestyle/dietary modification among  hypertensive patients in Nigeria. The study was conducted among 317 hypertensive patients randomized into controlled and intervention  groups (158 vs 159, respectively) between March 2021 and February 2022. Baseline knowledge of the patients was assessed  and intervention was provided for the intervention group with a structured educational program at a baseline and six months.  Descriptive data were presented with a frequency table in percentage while the chi-square test and univariate logistic regression were  used to determine the association between categorical variables. Out of the total number of 318 patients, 275 completed the study  (response rate: 86.8%) with 136 in the control group and 139 in the intervention group. The mean age of the patients was 59.5 (±12.5) and  patients > 60 years (49.5%) were the most frequent age category. The baseline knowledge score of hypertension was 9.8 (±2.6) and  9.3 (±2.6) on a scale of 16 points in the control group and intervention group, respectively (P = 0.060) while at six months 11.9 (±2.3) vs  10.8 (±2.4) (P < 0.001) and 12 months 12.6 (±2.5) vs 9.5 (±2.0) (P < 0.001), respectively. Knowledge of lifestyle/dietary modification in the  control group and intervention group at baseline was 7.0 (±2.1) and 6.6 (±2.0), respectively, while at six months 7.5 (±1.5) vs 9.9 (±1.3) (P <  0.001) and at 12 months 7.2 (±1.5) vs 10.4 (±1.2), respectively. Marital status, body mass index, and family history of hypertension were associated with knowledge of hypertension and lifestyle/dietary modification (P < 0.001). The educational intervention provided was  found to be associated with a significant improvement in knowledge of hypertension and lifestyle/dietary modification. The marital status  of the patients, body mass index and family history of hypertension influenced patients’ level of knowledge.