The outpatient management of hypertension at two Sierra Leonean health centres: a mixed-method investigation of follow-up compliance and patient-reported barriers to care
Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med. (Online)
;
12(1): 1-7, 2020. ilus
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1257718
ABSTRACT
Background:
Sub-Saharan Africa faces an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. In particular, hypertension and its therapeutic control present a challenge and opportunity for health practitioners and health systems within the region.Aim:
This study sought to assess an initiative conducted by two health clinics to begin treatment of hypertension amongst their patient populations by reviewing medication possession rates and documenting patient-reported barriers to care in the provision of chronic hypertension management.Setting:
Two private, outpatient health clinics in Sierra Leone recently beginning hypertension management initiatives.Methods:
A retrospective chart review identified 487 records of patients with diagnosed hypertension and assessed for medication adherence through calculation of medication possession ratios from pharmacy refill data. Surveys were conducted on a convenience sample of 68 patients of the hypertension treatment programme to discern patient-reported barriers of care.Results:
Medication possession rates were found to be less than 40% in 82% (399/487) of patients, between 40% and 79% in 12% (60/487) of patients and 80% or greater in 6% (28/487) of patients. In surveys of individuals being treated by the programme, patients were most likely to cite transportation (81%, 55/68), financial burden (69%, 47/68) and schedule conflicts with work or other prior commitments (25%, 17/68) as barriers to care.Conclusions:
In this newly instituted outpatient hypertensive management initiative, 82% of patients had medication possession ratios under 40%, which is likely to impact the clinical effectiveness of the initiative. The most frequent patient-reported barriers to care in surveys included transportation, financial burden and schedule conflicts
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Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Outpatients
/
Sierra Leone
/
Medication Adherence
/
Hypertension
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med. (Online)
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
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