The outpatient management of hypertension at two Sierra Leonean health centres: A mixed-method investigation of follow-up compliance and patient-reported barriers to care
The outpatient management of hypertension at two Sierra Leonean health centres: A mixed-method investigation of follow-up compliance and patient-reported barriers to care
Blog Article
Background: Sub-Saharan Africa faces an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases.In particular, hypertension and its therapeutic control present a challenge and opportunity for health practitioners and grand love red heart reposado tequila health systems within the region.Aim: This study sought to assess an initiative conducted by two health clinics to begin treatment of hypertension amongst their patient populations by reviewing medication possession rates and documenting patient-reported barriers to care in the provision of chronic hypertension management.Setting: Two private, outpatient health clinics in Sierra Leone recently beginning hypertension management initiatives.Methods: A retrospective chart review identified 487 records of patients with diagnosed hypertension and assessed for medication adherence through calculation of medication possession ratios from pharmacy refill data.
Surveys were conducted on a convenience sample of 68 patients of the hypertension treatment programme to discern patient-reported barriers of care.Results: Medication possession rates were found to be less than 40% in 82% (399/487) of patients, between 40% and 79% in 12% (60/487) of patients and 80% or greater in 6% (28/487) of patients.In surveys of individuals being treated by the programme, patients were most likely to cite transportation (81%, 55/68), financial burden (69%, 47/68) and schedule conflicts with work or other prior commitments (25%, 17/68) as barriers to care.Conclusions: In this newly instituted outpatient hypertensive management initiative, 82% of patients had replica beach walk candle medication possession ratios under 40%, which is likely to impact the clinical effectiveness of the initiative.The most frequent patient-reported barriers to care in surveys included transportation, financial burden and schedule conflicts.