| Abstract [eng] |
The Study of Factors Affecting the Patient's Decision to Irregularly Use Blood Pressure Lowering Medicines Rasos Viršilienės master’s thesis. Research supervisor prof. dr. Virginija Grabauskienė. Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology – Vilnius 2016 - 2017. The aim: To determine the factors that affect the patient‘s decision to use blood pressure lowering medication irregularly. Methodology: The research was carried out in Vilnius since January 2017 until March 2017. The method of anonymous survey was chosen to carry out the research. 377 filled in and eligible questionnaires were analysed. The survey sample was calculated using Raosoft survey sample calculator. Descriptive and comparative statistical data analysis was completed using SPSS software version 22. Result: Average age of the survey respondents was 58.94 years. Most of the respondents 76.1 percent knew that the most common cause of death is cardiovascular disease. Results of the study showed that most patients are aware of the major risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Almost all respondents said that they do not know what their blood pressure is, while 42.7 % of participants said that they measure their blood pressure. Most of the information about cardiovascular disease and how to avoid them given by a doctor (79%) or pharmacy technician (61.8%). 78.5% of respondents said they take blood pressure lowering medication every day. One type of medications commonly used to lower blood pressure (45.2%), 78.5% of respondents said they bought drugs immediately after the recipe and use them every day. The data analysis showed that patients regularly taking blood pressure lowering medication in different age groups is not the same (p <0.001). Patients who consume alcohol, are much less likely to use a blood pressure-lowering medication at regular intervals (p <0.001), as well as smokers (p=0.001). People with underlying disease may take blood pressure (86.7%) than those with no comorbidities regulating drugs. The largest share (86.8%) patients who regularly took medication to lower blood pressure by patients who have been given information about the doctor's medication. Patients who take care of their health and get sufficient information about their illness tend to consistently take their prescribed medications. It has been seen that patients who were associated cardiovascular prevention programs more stated that they constantly take blood pressure lowering medication. 91.5% of the patients who participated in these programs took drugs. Conclusions: Conclusions: Patients know enough about the most common causes of death and risk factors for the condition of heart and vascular diseases. Patients over the age of 70 rate the effects of stress and cardiovascular diseases at least, but they know better than younger that obesity and physical inactivity Condition of cardiovascular disease. Every second patient over the age of 40 would like to receive more information about cardiovascular diseases and their prevention. Most of the information about cardiovascular disease and how to avoid them comes from a doctor or pharmacy technician. More than 70% of those over 40 years old, regardless of their sex, regularly take medication to reduce their blood pressure. Patients who consume alcohol or smoke are less likely to take blood pressure lowering medication regularly. |
