PATIENTS KNOWLEDGE OF HYPERTENSION AND ITS CONTROL IN EASTERN SUDAN

ABSTRACTObjective: To describe the knowledge of hypertensive patients, in Kassala, eastern Sudan, aboutthe disease, in relation to its control.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Kassala Teaching Hospital, Kassala, Eastern Sudan.Subjects: Patients with hypertension attending referred outpatient medical clinic.Main outcome measures: Blood pressure, control status and hypertension knowledge score.Results: Two hundred and forty two patients were involved in this study, of whom 68 (73.6%) werefemales and were of middle age. The majority were of low education. One fifth (19.4%) was foundto have controlled blood pressure. About two-thirds of patients showed a high score of knowledgeabout the aetiology and complications of hypertension. Half of the patients knew about treatmentof hypertension. Patients have a very low score regarding knowledge of symptoms of hypertension(38.8%).Conclusion: This study showed good patients’ knowledge about hypertension, but such knowledgedid not seem to have a significant beneficial effect on blood pressure control. Health education iswarranted by health care providers and other factors leading to poor control should be identifiedand managed