Survey on knowledge, attitude and practice about hypertention in elderly patients from communities of Shanghai Xuhui District / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To survey on the knowledge,attitude and practice about hypertention in elderly patients and its relation to blood pressure control.Methods A sampling survey on the knowledge,atitude and practice about hypertention were carried out in a target population of 47 572 elderly hypertensive patients from 5 communities in Xuhui District of Shanghai during May 2011 to July 2011.Total 3800 questionairres were distributed and 3328 responded with a response rate of 87.5％.Results Among 3328 responders,3036 were aged above 65 years with a mean age of (76 ±7) years and 43.3％ were males.The rates of knowledge about hypertension were 88.5％-97.8％.General practitioners in out-patient service were the major source of knowledge.Raults revealed that 81.9％ had received health education before;81.8％ requied a regular health education; 67.2％ had self-tested blood pressure weekly; 89.6％ controlled salt intake; 66.8％ attended outdoor activities weekly with (5.6 ±2.1) times a week and (45 ±28) min each time.The blood pressure control rate in uncomplicated hypertensive patients was higher than those complicated with diabetes,coronary heart disease or stroke (62.3 ％ vs.17.0％,P ＜ 0.01).Knowing high blood pressure was related to salt intake (OR =3.364,P ＜ 0.01),hoping a regular health education about hypertension (OR =1.718,P ＜ 0.01) were factors contributing to blood pressure control in uncomplicated hypertensive patients; while self-testing blood pressure once or twice a month(OR =2.572,P ＜ 0.01)was contributing factor to blood pressure control in complicated hypertensive patients.Conclusions Elderly hypertensive patients from communities in Shanghai have enough knowledge,positive attitude but lack practices.General practitioners should carry out personalized and stronger health education focued on behavioral changes for those patients.