Assessment and Analysis of Knowledge and Medication Adherence in Patients with Hypertension

Abstract

Objective: Hypertension is a chronic condition that requires long-term management. Successful control of blood pressure largely depends on patient awareness and adherence to prescribed medication. This study was designed to assess the level of knowledge and medication adherence in patients with hypertension and to examine the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on adherence behaviour. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Tumakuru from May 2025 to October 2025. A total of 147 patients diagnosed with hypertension were included in the study. Participants’ knowledge of hypertension and their medication adherence were assessed using a structured Knowledge Assessment Scale and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between sociodemographic variables and medication adherence. Results: Among 147 participants, 57.1% of participants were male. Most participants were aged 50–59 (30.6%) and resided in rural areas (66%). By knowledge assessment, most participants' knowledge level was moderate (55%), poor (24%), and good (21%). High awareness was found in lifestyle practices, including avoiding extra salt (94.5%), regular medication use (87%), daily exercise (85.7%), and monitoring of blood pressure (83.6%), complications of poorly controlled hypertension (43.5%) or alcohol as a risk factor (25.8%). Most participants' adherence levels were moderate (49.6%), poor (28.5%), and good (21.7%). We also found that sociodemographic factors like gender, age, education, and comorbidities are independent of medication adherence. Conclusion: Patients demonstrated fair knowledge and moderate adherence; gaps remain in awareness and in consistent medication use. The absence of correlation with age, gender, or education suggests that psychological and communication factors influence adherence. Enhanced education, counselling, and follow-up are essential for improving hypertension outcomes.