Hypertension knowledge among patients from an urban clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To determine levels and correlates of hypertension knowledge.


METHODS
Cross-sectional telephone survey.


METHODS
Urban, public hospital clinic.


METHODS
296 adults with hypertension.


METHODS
Hypertension knowledge was assessed through a 10-item test; respondents received one point for each correct answer.


RESULTS
Eighty-nine percent of respondents were Black, 79% were female, 75% had a monthly income < $1000, and 62% had completed high school. Items with the lowest percentage of correct responses included knowing that hypertension does not cause cancer (41.9% correct), a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg is normal (59.8% correct), hypertension lasts a lifetime (60.5% correct), and renal failure is a complication of hypertension (76.4% correct). Overall, 39% answered 9 or 10 questions correctly. Low hypertension knowledge (< or = 7 questions correct) was associated with age > or = 60 years, having less than a high school education, and reporting a first hypertension diagnosis within 9 years before being surveyed.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension knowledge deficits in specific content areas and among certain subgroups were present in this urban population. Educational programs focusing on newly diagnosed hypertensive patients and aimed at filling targeted knowledge deficits may be a cost-effective approach to increase hypertension knowledge in similar populations.
Sanne
Shane
S
Section of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave, SL-16, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Muntner
Paul
P
Kawasaki
Lumie
L
Hyre
Amanda
A
DeSalvo
Karen B
KB
D001741:Black or African American; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014505:Urban Population