Perception of Stress, Depression, Hypertension and Myocardial Infarction as Predictors of Adhererence to Hypertension Drug Treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This survey was performed to detrmine the relationship between the adherence to hypertension drug treatment and the perception of stress, depression, hypertension and myocardial infarction. 300 patients with uncomplicated hypertension from Rijeka, Croatia were included ( 131 women, 169 men, mean age 53,5 years. Adherence to  hypertenion drug treatment as criterion, and the perception of stress, depression, hypertension and myocardial infarction as predictors were determined by self-assessment. Collected data were analysed using factor analysis, regression analysis, Kolmogorov Smirnov test, χ²- test and t-test. The statistical significance was set at a probability rate of less than 5% (p < 0,05). 45.09% of women (p = 0.479) and 64.08% of men (p= 0.032) were motivated to take antihypertensives. 55.79% of  women ( p= 0,382) and 64.78% of men (p=0.028) had suffitient  knowledge about drug treatment of hypertension. The positive predictors of motivation for taking antihypertensives were physiological disturbances and percieved potency oh hypertension, and the negative perceived helplessness in stress control and negative thoughts and emotions. The positive predictors of  knowledge about taking antihypertensives were percieved helplessness in stress control , perceived potency of hypertension and myocardial infarction, and the negative predictors were percieved self-efficacy in stress control, physiological disturbances and evaluation of hypertension. Both the motivation as well as the knowledge about taking antihypertensives should be improved,especially in women. The perception of stress, depression, hypertension and myocardial infarction can be used to predict adherence to hypertension drug treatment.