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ABSTRACT
Introduction: In 2014, the global prevalence of adult hypertension patients was over 22%, accounting for more than 40% of the African adult population (Juliet et al ., 2007). One main cause is poor drug adherence. Treatment adherence is defined as the degree of compliance with prescribed therapeutic methods, whether medicinal or non-medical, aimed at maintaining blood pressure levels (Vermeire et al ., 2001). Objectives: The goal of the study is to assess the level of adherence to medication and nonmedication therapy among hypertensive patients in an outpatient clinic setting in a tertiary facility. Method: A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. A cross sectional survey involving 100 patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). The data collected from the survey were entered in Microsoft excel and analyzed in IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive analysis was performed. Results: Participants showed a good knowledge on what hypertension is (53%) while 43% had poor knowledge. With regards to adherence to medication, 44% rarely forget to take their medications, whereas 60% stop using their medications when the feel worse after taking their medications. About 39% always limit alcohol intake, 42% and 37% sometimes maintain healthy weight and exercise at least 30 minutes on most days. Conclusion: the study revealed that adherence to both medication and non-medication therapy among hypertensive patients in an outpatient clinic setting is influenced by a complex interplay of factors. Patients' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding their treatment significantly impact their adherence levels. Furthermore, adherence varies across different patient subgroups, suggesting that personalized interventions tailored to specific demographic and psychosocial characteristics could be beneficial in improving overall management of hypertension. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive education and support strategies in outpatient settings to enhance adherence and ultimately, patient outcomes in hypertension care.
