LEVEL OF ADHERENCE TO LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ATTENDING OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT AT BISHOFTU GENERAL HOSPITAL, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Background: Hypertension is a major public health problem affecting over one billion people worldwide. Many people live unhealthy lifestyles, which are regularly undetected and poorly controlled for hypertension. To address this issue, adherence to lifestyle modification approaches is regularly overlooked as the cornerstone of hypertension prevention and control. Objective: To assess the level of adherence to lifestyle modifications and associated factors among hypertensive patients attending outpatient departments at Bishoftu General Hospital, in 2022. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 301 hypertensive patients between January and March 2022. A systematic random sampling technique was used. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews with participants using a structured questionnaire by trained data collectors. Data were entered into Epi-info 7.2.1.0 and exported to SPSS version 26 software for further analysis. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and identified predictors of the outcome using a bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model (adjusted odds ratios with p-value <0.05 and 95% CI). Results: The study included 301 respondents with 100% response rate.158 (52.5%) were females and median age was 57 (±12.4 SD) years. The overall adherence in this study was only 26.9%.The study found that the patients Age older than 55 years (AOR= 2.81; 95% CI: 1.35 5.84), formal education (AOR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.28 - 0.96), the patients who had hypertension with 5 to 10 years diagnosis time (AOR = 2.33: 95% CI: 1.01–5.37), co-morbidity (AOR=2.06; 95% CI: 1.21,3.49) and good knowledge about healthy lifestyle (AOR:0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0,74) have an independently associated with adherence to lifestyle modifications. Conclusions: The Level of adherence to recommended lifestyle modification among hypertensive patients was low in this study. Age, education, duration of hypertension, having co morbidities and knowledge of lifestyle were identified as predictors of the outcome. Therefore, the health sector needs to develop intervention strategies to improve adherence to recommended lifestyle modifications for hypertensive patients. Keywords: Adherence, lifestyle modification, Hypertension.