Keywords
blood pressure self-monitoring
treatment adherence
illness acceptance
primary care
How to Cite
Abstract
ISSN 2084 4212 ISSN 2450 839X Background. Home blood pressure self-monitoring is a recommended component of hypertension care, yet data on its actual frequency and determinants in Polish primary care remain limited. Objectives. To assess the frequency of blood pressure self-monitoring and its associations with patient characteristics, treatment adherence, illness acceptance, and blood pressure control. Material and methods. This cross-sectional study included 227 adults with diagnosed hypertension attending a primary care practice (NZOZ Kosmonautów) in Wroclaw, Poland. A study-specific questionnaire, the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale, and the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) were used. Regular self-monitoring was defined as measurements taken at least three times a week. Results. A blood pressure monitor was owned by 98.7% of participants, and 131 patients (57.7%) reported regular self-monitoring, including 41.0% measuring daily. Regular self-monitors were older (52.3 vs 44.0 years; p < 0.001), took more medications (4.3 vs 3.0; p < 0.001), had a higher body mass index (p = 0.024) and lower illness acceptance (30.2 vs 33.7 points; p = 0.004), and more often lived in rural areas (38.9% vs 20.8%; p = 0.006). In multivariable analysis, rural residence remained an independent predictor of regular self-monitoring (OR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1.25–4.60; p = 0.008). Less frequent measurement was weakly associated with more non-adherent behaviours (rho = 0.163; p = 0.014), and regular self-monitors scored more favourably on the reduced sodium intake subscale (p = 0.004). Regular self-monitoring was not significantly associated with blood pressure control (53.4% vs 47.9%; p = 0.411; adjusted OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 0.97–3.08; p = 0.065). Conclusions. Blood pressure self-monitoring is common in this population but only partly systematic and is undertaken mainly by patients with a greater disease burden. Measurement frequency alone does not translate into better blood pressure control, highlighting the need to combine self-monitoring with structured education and adherence-supporting interventions delivered by primary care nurses.References
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