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Abstract
Background:
Hypertension remains a leading
public health concern in Saudi
Arabia, with many patients
experiencing challenges in
medication adherence, awareness,
and blood pressure control.
Pharmacists have the potential
to play a vital role in improving
these outcomes through education
and ongoing support.
Objective:
To assess awareness, medication
management practices, and
the utilization of pharmacy
services among hypertensive
patients attending primary
healthcare centers (PHCs)
in Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional
study was conducted among
235 adult Saudi hypertensive
patients attending urban and
rural PHCs in the Abha region.
Data were collected using
a structured, self-administered
questionnaire developed based
on literature and expert input.
The questionnaire assessed
sociodemographic characteristics,
medication adherence, awareness
of antihypertensive medications,
use of pharmacy services,
and self-reported blood pressure
control. Data analysis was
performed using SPSS version
18. Awareness scores were
categorized as poor (<60%)
or good (>60%), and associations
were tested using the Chi-square
test, with a significance
threshold set at p < 0.05.
Results:
The majority of participants
(76.6%) demonstrated poor
awareness of their antihypertensive
medications, while only 23.4%
had good awareness. Additionally,
56.2% of patients reported
never receiving medication
information from a pharmacist.
Only 21.3% of patients reported
feeling very clear about the
purpose of their medications,
and 26.4% had received pharmacist-led
education on lifestyle modifications.
Key factors significantly
associated with better awareness
included gender (p = .039),
marital status (p = .006),
education level (p = .032),
duration of hypertension (p
= .004), and frequency of
blood pressure monitoring
(p = .049).
Conclusion:
There is an urgent need to
improve hypertension management
in primary care by enhancing
patient education, addressing
barriers to adherence, and
expanding the role of pharmacists
in chronic disease support.
Keywords:
Hypertension management, patient
awareness, medication adherence,
pharmacy services, primary
healthcare, Saudi Arabia.
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