Factors influencing knowledge levels among hypertensive patients receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Basic knowledge about hypertension and its treatment can have a positive impact on high blood pressure control reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study aimed at assessing the knowledge levels and to determine the factors that influenced knowledge levels among hypertensive patients receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the outpatient hypertensive clinic of KATH between April and May 2019. Three hundred and ninety-seven (397) hypertensive patients aged 18 years and above who had been diagnosed with hypertension for at least six months and currently taking at least one antihypertensive drug completed a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of basic socio-demographic profile, patient-related information on hypertension and its treatment and knowledge on hypertension. The Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-L) was used to determine the level of knowledge among patients receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi. Results: Out of the 397 patients, 199 (50.1%) had high knowledge level on hypertension and its treatment. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted for hypertension knowledge level. Respondents with a junior level of education, paid for their antihypertensive drugs by themselves, had asthma as a comorbidity and took non-prescribed drugs had a significant association with knowledge level on hypertension and its treatment. Conclusion: Knowledge about hypertension in hypertensive patients is moderate and therefore much effort should be made in educating and involving them in the condition to help them gain control over the disease and improve adherence rates.