Elevated blood pressure and illness beliefs: a cross-sectional study of emergency department patients in Jamaica.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is common among emergency department (ED) patients. While some data exist on the association between ED BP and hypertension (HTN) in the USA, little is known about this relationship in Afro-Caribbean nations. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between elevated systolic BP in the ED and a previous diagnosis of HTN, accounting for potential factors that could contribute to poor HTN control among those with a previous diagnosis: socioeconomic status, health-seeking behavior, underlying HTN illness beliefs, medication adherence, and perceived adherence self-efficacy.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional survey over 6 weeks, from November 19 through December 30, 2014. Those surveyed were non-critically ill or injured adult

SUBMITTER: Wilson TT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5976560 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature