Perspectives on antihypertensive medication: a qualitative study in a rural Yogyakarta province in Indonesia

Rahmawati, R; Bajorek, B

Perspectives on antihypertensive medication: a qualitative study in a rural Yogyakarta province in Indonesia

Rahmawati, R

Bajorek, B

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives, 2016, 32 (2), pp. 76 - 83
Issue Date:: 2016-02-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Rahmawati, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3052-7378	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Bajorek, B https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2532-7187	en_US
dc.date.issued	2016-02-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Drugs and Therapy Perspectives, 2016, 32 (2), pp. 76 - 83	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1172-0360	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/97247
dc.description.abstract	© 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland. Aim: Patients’ perceptions and beliefs underpin their adherence to pharmacotherapeutic regimens and are influenced by access to appropriate information and education. This study explores the perceptions of lay persons from a low-resource community in Indonesia regarding antihypertension medication. Methodology: Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and thematically analysed. Fourteen respondents (i.e. older persons with hypertension and lay health workers) from a local community-based health programme in Yogyakarta province (Indonesia) were recruited for this qualitative study. Results: Four themes emerged: (1) participants felt that medication for hypertension is unnecessary, instead preferring lifestyle changes and traditional medicines; (2) a fear of becoming dependent on medication underpinned non-adherence to antihypertensive agents—participants with hypertension wanted to achieve normal blood pressure, but without taking long-term medication; (3) symptom-based drivers for treatment led participants to rank other health problems a higher priority than hypertension; and (4) although lay health workers had an opportunity to provide information about hypertension and its management, participants themselves considered this to be currently inadequate. Conclusion: Some misconceptions regarding the role of antihypertension medication that negatively influenced adherence were identified. Beliefs that hypertension can be easily treated by lifestyle modifications can undermine motivation to take antihypertensive agents. Participants expressed their need for more targeted information about hypertension and its treatment; however, they do not expect to obtain such information from their physician. The potential role of lay health workers needs to be further explored as a strategy to enhance understanding and adherence.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Drugs and Therapy Perspectives	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s40267-015-0263-4	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Networking & Telecommunications	en_US
dc.title	Perspectives on antihypertensive medication: a qualitative study in a rural Yogyakarta province in Indonesia	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	32	en_US
utslib.for	1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Students
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	32	en_US

Abstract:

© 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland. Aim: Patients’ perceptions and beliefs underpin their adherence to pharmacotherapeutic regimens and are influenced by access to appropriate information and education. This study explores the perceptions of lay persons from a low-resource community in Indonesia regarding antihypertension medication. Methodology: Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and thematically analysed. Fourteen respondents (i.e. older persons with hypertension and lay health workers) from a local community-based health programme in Yogyakarta province (Indonesia) were recruited for this qualitative study. Results: Four themes emerged: (1) participants felt that medication for hypertension is unnecessary, instead preferring lifestyle changes and traditional medicines; (2) a fear of becoming dependent on medication underpinned non-adherence to antihypertensive agents—participants with hypertension wanted to achieve normal blood pressure, but without taking long-term medication; (3) symptom-based drivers for treatment led participants to rank other health problems a higher priority than hypertension; and (4) although lay health workers had an opportunity to provide information about hypertension and its management, participants themselves considered this to be currently inadequate. Conclusion: Some misconceptions regarding the role of antihypertension medication that negatively influenced adherence were identified. Beliefs that hypertension can be easily treated by lifestyle modifications can undermine motivation to take antihypertensive agents. Participants expressed their need for more targeted information about hypertension and its treatment; however, they do not expect to obtain such information from their physician. The potential role of lay health workers needs to be further explored as a strategy to enhance understanding and adherence.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/97247