How Many Hypertensive Patients Recognize the Name of Antihypertensive Drug That They Are Taking?

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Doctor shopping is common in Korea. Therefore, if patients are not familiar with the name of the antihypertensive drug they are taking, they may end up taking a drug that previously caused them side effects and may have to start on a new antihypertensive drug. This study was to clarify the factors related to patients' recognition of the name of their antihypertensive medications. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was done in June 2002 targeting 607 outpatients who were on antihypertensive medication seeking care at Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University Hospital and a clinic in Gyungju. Out of the 607 patients, 293 patients responded to the questionnaire. RESULTS: Ninety six of the 293 patients (32.8%) were able to accurately name at least one of the antihypertensive drugs they were taking. Women were more familiar with names of antihypertensive drugs than men (39.4% vs 23.6%, odds ratio [O.R], 2.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39~5.22). The recognition of a drug was greater in subjects who had a higher education level (high school or university) compared to those with a lower education level (elementary school or less) by 4.2 fold (O.R, 4.20; CI, 1.64~10.69). The type of concomitant drug intake was lower in subjects who could name their antihypertensive drugs than for subjects who could not (O.R, 0.78; CI, 0.63~0.98). The patients who could name their antihypertensive drugs had both a lower mean systolic (133.2 11.6 mmHg mean standard deviation [S.D] vs 141.3 15.5 mmHg mean S.D) and diastolic blood pressure, compared to the patients who could not (84.5 7.2 mmHg mean S.D vs 86.8 9.5 mmHg mean S.D) when measured twice consecutively during a recent clinic visit. CONCLUSION: The recognition of a medication was associated with patient's sex, education level and the number of concomitant drug intake. The patients, who could name the antihypertensive drugs they were taking, had a lower mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure.