Compliance Level with Therapeutic Regimen of Medication and Life Style among Patients with Hypertension in Rural Communities

일 농촌지역 고혈압 환자의 치료적 요법의 이행수준 - 약물복용과 생활습관을 중심으로 -

Purpose: To identify the compliance level with therapeutic regimen among patients with hypertension residing in rural communities. Method: A descriptive-retrospective research design was employed. One hundred patients with hypertension using 8 Primary Health Care Posts under W Public Health Center were randomly recruited on the basis of being over 35 years of age. After obtaining written consent, the patients underwent direct interviews with a structured questionnaire carried out by 8 public health practitioners. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were utilized. Results: In a binary logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, education, income, and occupation, those who were receiving medication (OR=5.34), were undergoing a weight control program (OR=4.45), restricted alcohol (OR=9.93), or smoking cessation (OR=25.59) as recommended by medical or health professionals were more compliant (p<.05) while those under a low salt diet, exercise, and stress management were not significant statistically (p>.05). Conclusions: Further research should be conducted to validate these findings so as to facilitate the development of nursing intervention strategies for improving the compliance of hypertensive patients in respect to medication and life style modification.