Evaluation of treatment compliance and lifestyle change success of adult hypertensive individuals admitted to Trakya University Family Medicine outpatient clinics

The aim of this study was to investigate the success in implementing lifestyle changes and medication adherence levels of adult hypertensive patients who applied to the outpatient clinics of the Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, and the relationship between these and sociodemographic characteristics and disease-related factors. The sample of our study consisted of adult hypertension patients who applied to the outpatient clinics of Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and accepted the study. Data were collected by applying a questionnaire consisting of 46 questions. The questionnaire included 38 questions about the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and lifestyle changes related to the disease and disease-related lifestyle changes. In addition, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale with 8 questions was administered to the participants. Of the patients who participated in the study, 110 (65.9) were female, 57 (34.1) were male and the mean age was 56.8 years. The mean body mass index of the participants was 26.6, overweight; the mean waist circumference was 84 for women and 98 for men, which was above the ideal values. After being diagnosed with hypertension, 94 (56,3%) of the participants reduced salt consumption, 16 (9,6%) exercised regularly, 82 (49%) lost weight, 7 (15%) of the smokers quit smoking, 11 (29,7%) of the alcohol users quit 30%, 99 (59,3%) reduced fatty foods, 117 (70,1%) increased their consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits. Among the occupational groups, it was found that workers had a higher degree of difficulty than retired people (p<0.05). According to the Morisky Medication Compliance Scale scores, more than half of the participants (51.5%) showed low compliance. As a result, it was determined that hypertensive patients had difficulty in lifestyle changes, more so among employees, and more than half of them showed low compliance with drug therapy. Our study is important in terms of adding new data on compliance with hypertension management in our country and determining the factors that may cause non-compliance. It is thought that it will be useful to examine the factors affecting the compliance of hypertension patients with both lifestyle changes and drug treatment, to identify problems, and to organize training programs to increase compliance with problems and treatment.