iamms/2019.033/33/tukur et al. – C-International Archives

International Archives of Medicine and Medical Sciences (IAMMS), pISSN: 2705-1404; eISSN: 2705-1412
November to December 2019 Vol 1(3): pp.42-48 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33515/iamms/2019.033/33

Original Article

Effect of home visits on lifestyle modification, drug adherence and control of hypertension

Hindatu M. Tukur 1*, Bukar A. Grema2, Sanjay Singh1, Ismaila Ahmed-Mohammed3,

Fatima A. Falaki1, Maryam M. Ahmad4

¹Department of Family Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

²Department of Family Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

³Department of Community Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

⁴Department of Nursing Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author’s Email: hindutukur@yahoo.com

Published December 31, 2019

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypertension remains the leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality globally. Unhealthy lifestyle and non-adherence to medication are believed to constitute serious obstacles to achieving blood pressure control among hypertensive patients. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of home visits on lifestyle modification, drug adherence and blood pressure control among patients with uncontrolled hypertension in Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted among 139 patients with uncontrolled hypertension (selected by systematic sampling technique) attending the General Outpatient Clinics of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire and data sheet were used to obtain information on the research variables. In addition to the routine hospital care for hypertension, the intervention group also had 3 home visits over a period of 3 months. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS version 22 statistical computer software package. Results: The participants in both groups were predominantly females and married. Although significant reductions in the proportion of participants that practiced unhealthy lifestyle, and significant increases in the proportion of participants that were adherent to medications, and those with controlled blood pressure, were recorded in both groups, the differences observed were by far higher in the intervention group as compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that home visits are effective in facilitating healthy lifestyle modification, high medication adherence and blood pressure control among patients with uncontrolled hypertension in Sokoto, Nigeria. Management of healthcare institutions should make home visits a core component of the standard care of patients with hypertension.

Keywords: Home visits, lifestyle modification, drug adherence, blood pressure control

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