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Osafu Ogbeide, Obehi H. Okojie, P-224: Drug information given to hypertensives in Benin City, Nigeria, American Journal of Hypertension, Volume 14, Issue S1, April 2001, Page 103A, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0895-7061(01)01414-5
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Abstract
Background: Health care and drug therapy of hypertensives have improved world-wide but the frequency of re-admission of complicated cases in Benin City, Nigeria is consistently on the increase. As part of the on-going investigation to address this problem, this paper reports on the information given to hypertensive patients.
Design: A cross-sectional study of 489 drug-managed hypertensives attending the consultant clinic in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City was carried out using structured interviews.
Result: 308 (62.8%) had a poor educational status. The different drug-information given to the patients included “how the prescribed drug works” 249 (50.9%); “how to take the drugs” 418 (85.5%); “what side effects they should expect from their drugs” 255 (52.1%) and “how to cope with the side-effect of the drug” 111 (22.7%). Only 198 (40.5%) clearly remembered what the doctor told them. To show that they did not understand, 245 (51.9%) still sought further information from pharmacists and nurses who dispense the drugs.
Discussion: The results showed that the hypertensives in Benin City had inadequate knowledge and poor understanding of the working, complications and side-effects of their prescribed drugs. With the high illiteracy rate most developing countries, there is need to address this important aspect of drug-therapy of hypertensives and to share experiences with researchers with similar interest.
