Background The prevalence of hypertension in Poland is very high, but many patients are not controlled or not treated. The most common cause of unsuccessful treatment is the lack of compliance. Polish Society of Hypertension introduced national structured hypertension teaching programme. The aim of this study is to evaluate patients’ interest in educational programs, patients’ knowledge on hypertension and the change in blood pressure values.
Material and methods The educational program consisted of six hours led by a trained nurse and a physician. During classes performed in the Department of Hypertension and Diabetology of Medical University of Gdansk and 50 collaborating centers from Gdansk region, 2000 patients were educated (1074 and 926 respectively). Every tenth patient was evaluated. Patients were randomized to the structured teaching programme or to the control group educated after 6 months. We analyzed data of 155 hypertensive patients (52% women, 48% men; mean age 55,7 ± 13,4 (SD) yrs., mean BMI 29,3 ± 6,3 kg/m2, mean office BP 146,1 ± 20,4//90,8 ± 12,9 mm Hg).
Results Only 11% of patients evaluated their knowledge on hypertension as sufficient. At the same time 95% of patients were interested in getting more information on hypertension and 98% is ready to measure blood pressure at home daily, if this would improve BP control. Blood pressure decreased in the intervention group (14,69 mm Hg for SBP and 8,6 mm Hg for DBP; P < 0,003 and P < 0,006, respectively), and in the control group (9,56 mm Hg for SBP and 6,18 mm Hg for DBP; P = 0,01 for both). In the educational group in comparison with control, the improvement of knowledge on hypertension definition, antihypertensive drugs and management of sudden BP rise was noticed.
Conclusions The structured educational programme of Polish Society of Hypertension resulted in improved blood pressure control and in improvement of patients’ knowledge on hypertension and its complications.