Date of Award

Fall 1981

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

McLane, Audrey

Second Advisor

Ryan, Polly

Third Advisor

Sejda, Carol

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors which contribute to medication compliance among 40 hypertensive patients. Forty consecutively appearing hypertensive patients were interviewed from a Hypertension Clinic at a Veterans Administration Medical Center. The High Blood Pressure Questionnaire was the instrument used to determine the answers to the research questions formulated. Findings indicated 39 patients (97. 5 percent) were compliant when measured by patients' estimate of adherence to a prescribed drug regime and 34 patients (85 percent) were found to have controlled blood pressure. The first research question investigated the relationship between patients' knowledge about hypertension and its management with patients' perception of compliance with a prescribed therapeutic regime. Findings indicated that compliant subjects in this study were well informed about hypertension and a prescribed medication schedule. Compliant subjects achieved high scores to questions on the questionnaire. The second research question examined the factors patients identified as contributing to their perceived compliance with a prescribed therapeutic regime. Thirty-four patients (85 percent) associated medication-taking with a behavioral cue. Additionally, all 40 patients expressed satisfaction with their clinician. The third research question examined factors negatively associated with patients' perceived compliance. It was found that side effects were not frequent and patients did not identify them as a reason for terminating drug therapy. In conclusion the factors identified as contributing to compliance were: knowledge about the disease and medication schedule; three or less medications prescribed daily; satisfaction with clinician; and a behavioral cue associated with taking medicine. Four hypotheses were generated for further study.

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