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VOLUME 54 , ISSUE 1 ( January-March, 2020 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assessment of Knowledge of Hypertension among Patients with Mental Illness Approaching a Community Psychiatry Service

Shubh M Singh, Chandrima Naskar, Yogender Malik, Shantanu Shukla

Keywords : Attitude, Awareness, Community psychiatry, Hypertension, Knowledge, Mental illness, Noncommunicable disease

Citation Information : Singh SM, Naskar C, Malik Y, Shukla S. Assessment of Knowledge of Hypertension among Patients with Mental Illness Approaching a Community Psychiatry Service. J Postgrad Med Edu Res 2020; 54 (1):8-11.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10028-1344

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-06-2018

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2020; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: Hypertension is a common chronic disease which progressively and permanently damages target organs, leading to life-threatening complications and death. A lack of knowledge about hypertension may be detrimental to efforts at prevention and control of hypertension. Patients with mental illness are known to have greater cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the knowledge regarding hypertension among patients with mental illness in community settings of Punjab and Haryana. Materials and methods: One hundred eighty patients attending the community psychiatry clinic of at two rural locations of Haryana (Naraingarh and Raipurrani) and Punjab (Kharar and Nandpurkalor) were included. All patients were assessed for knowledge about hypertension by using a 29-item-adapted Hindi version of the patient-administered Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS). Each correct response was marked as 1, and incorrect or no response was marked 0. Results: In the study population, the mean knowledge scores obtained was 20.87 (SD: 2.51; range: 14–28). A history of hypertension was available in 22.2% of participants. There was no statistical difference of the score on the knowledge questionnaire between those with and without hypertension. Conclusion: Results indicate an appreciable level of knowledge about hypertension in our study population. However, efforts at hypertension screening and education should continue. Clinical significance: The levels of knowledge of hypertension in patients with psychiatric disorders suggest that it may be feasible to study whether lifestyle modifications are actually in place and whether these are feasible.


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