Patients knowledge of hypertension and its control in Eastern Sudan.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the knowledge of hypertensive patients, in Kassala, eastern Sudan, about the disease, in relation to its control.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Kassala Teaching Hospital, Kassala, Eastern Sudan.


METHODS
Patients with hypertension attending referred outpatient medical clinic.


METHODS
Blood pressure, control status and hypertension knowledge score.


RESULTS
Two hundred and forty two patients were involved in this study, of whom 68 (73.6%) were females and were of middle age. The majority were of low education. One fifth (19.4%) was found to have controlled blood pressure. About two-thirds of patients showed a high score of knowledge about the aetiology and complications of hypertension. Half of the patients knew about treatment of hypertension. Patients have a very low score regarding knowledge of symptoms of hypertension (38.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed good patients' knowledge about hypertension, but such knowledge did not seem to have a significant beneficial effect on blood pressure control. Health education is warranted by health care providers and other factors leading to poor control should be identified and managed.
Osman
E M
EM
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Suleiman
I
I
Elzubair
A G
AG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013397:Sudan