Background
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of and determine the factors associated with antihypertensive medication (A-HTNM) non-adherence among hypertension care seekers attending primary health clinics in the Gaza Strip.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted as the recruitment phase of a clustered randomized controlled trial including 538 participants. The participants were randomly selected from 10 primary health care centers by two-stage cluster random sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data through face-to-face interview. The questionnaire was developed based on the World Health Organization determinants for medication non-adherence and the Health Belief Model. The main outcomes of this study were the prevalences of A-HTNM non-adherence and its associated factors. Adherence status was assessed using the eight-item Morisky Self-Report Medication Adherence Scale. Data were analyzed by STATA ver. 14.0 (Stata Corp., College Station, TX, USA) using a standard complex survey, accounting for unresponsiveness and the clustering sampling approach.
Results
The overall prevalence of A-HTNM non-adherence was 65.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 59.2–71.8). Among all studied predictors, only self-efficacy of participants (odds ratio [OR], 3.8; 95% CI, 1.79–2.84) and social support (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 2.82–5.11) remained significantly associated with A-HTNM non-adherence after adjusting for age, education level, number and frequency of A-HTNM doses per day, and comorbidities.
Conclusion
The high prevalence of non-adherence highlights the need for serious intervention to enhance the adherence rate among hypertension patients. The associated factors can be considered when developing appropriate interventions.

Citations

• Adherence to hypertension management at a rural hospital in Limpopo: A cross-sectional study
  Murendeni F. Sikhau, Mbuyisa J. Makhubu, Gert J.O. Marincowitz, Clara Marincowitz
  South African Family Practice.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• ADHERENCE TO ANTIHYPERTENSIVE MEDICATION AND ITS DETERMINANTS IN A PRIMARY CARE SETTING OF KALABURAGI DISTRICT
  GEETHANJALI P, POONAM P SHINGADE, AMRUTA SWATI I, PRASHANT KUMAR
  Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research.2024; : 15.     CrossRef
• Prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors among healthcare workers in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: a cross-sectional study
  Joma Younis, Lina Wang, Kejing Zhang, Majed Jebril, Hong Jiang, Yahui Fan, Zhaofang Li, Mei Ma, Le Ma, Zhaozhao Hui, Mao Ma, Wei Zhang
  BMJ Open.2024; 14(12): e076577.     CrossRef
• Blood Pressure Control and Its Determinants among Patients with Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease in Myanmar
  Ei Su Mon, Aurawamon Sriyuktasuth, Warunee Phligbua
  Nurse Media Journal of Nursing.2022; 12(1): 1.     CrossRef
• Medication Adherence and Effective Management of Hypertension
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(2): 89.     CrossRef

Background
: Doctor shopping is common in Korea. Therefore, if patients are not familiar with the name of the antihypertensive drug they are taking, they may end up taking a drug that previously caused them side effects and may have to start on a new antihypertensive drug. This study was to clarify the factors related to patients' recognition of the name of their antihypertensive medications.

Methods : A questionnaire survey was done in June 2002 targeting 607 outpatients who were on antihypertensive medication seeking care at Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University Hospital and a clinic in Gyungju. Out of the 607 patients, 293 patients responded to the questionnaire.

Results : Ninety six of the 293 patients (32.8%) were able to accurately name at least one of the antihypertensive drugs they were taking. Women were more familiar with names of antihypertensive drugs than men (39.4% vs 23.6%, odds ratio [O.R], 2.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39∼5.22). The recognition of a drug was greater in subjects who had a higher education level (high school or university) compared to those with a lower education level (elementary school or less) by 4.2 fold (O.R, 4.20; CI, 1.64∼10.69). The type of concomitant drug intake was lower in subjects who could name their antihypertensive drugs than for subjects who could not (O.R, 0.78; CI, 0.63∼0.98). The patients who could name their antihypertensive drugs had both a lower mean systolic (133.2±11.6 mmHg: mean±standard deviation [S.D] vs 141.3±15.5 mmHg: mean±S.D) and diastolic blood pressure, compared to the patients who could not (84.5±7.2 mmHg: mean±S.D vs 86.8±9.5 mmHg: mean±S.D) when measured twice consecutively during a recent clinic visit.

Conclusion : The recognition of a medication was associated with patient's sex, education level and the number of concomitant drug intake. The patients, who could name the antihypertensive drugs they were taking, had a lower mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure.