Doctors’ Knowledge of Hypertension Guidelines Recommendations Reflected in Their Practice

Aim. To evaluate doctors’ knowledge, attitude, and practices and predictors of adherence to Malaysian hypertension guidelines (CPG 2008). Methods. Twenty-six doctors involved in hypertension management at Penang General Hospital were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Doctors’ knowledge and attitu...

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Main Authors: Nafees Ahmad, Amer Hayat Khan, Irfanullah Khan, Amjad Khan, Muhammad Atif
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:International Journal of Hypertension
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8524063
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author Nafees Ahmad
Amer Hayat Khan
Irfanullah Khan
Amjad Khan
Muhammad Atif
author_facet Nafees Ahmad
Amer Hayat Khan
Irfanullah Khan
Amjad Khan
Muhammad Atif
author_sort Nafees Ahmad
collection DOAJ
description Aim. To evaluate doctors’ knowledge, attitude, and practices and predictors of adherence to Malaysian hypertension guidelines (CPG 2008). Methods. Twenty-six doctors involved in hypertension management at Penang General Hospital were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Doctors’ knowledge and attitudes towards guidelines were evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire. Their practices were evaluated by noting their prescriptions written to 520 established hypertensive outpatients (20 prescriptions/doctor). SPSS 17 was used for data analysis. Results. Nineteen doctors (73.07%) had adequate knowledge of guidelines. Specialists and consultants had significantly better knowledge about guidelines’ recommendations. Doctors were positive towards guidelines with mean attitude score of 23.15±1.34 points on a 30-point scale. The median number of guidelines compliant prescriptions was 13 (range 5–20). Statistically significant correlation (rs = 0.635, P<0.001) was observed between doctors’ knowledge and practice scores. A total of 349 (67.1%) prescriptions written were guidelines compliant. In multivariate analysis hypertension clinic (OR = 0.398, P=0.008), left ventricular hypertrophy (OR = 0.091, P=0.001) and heart failure (OR = 1.923, P=0.039) were significantly associated with guidelines adherence. Conclusion. Doctors’ knowledge of guidelines is reflected in their practice. The gap between guidelines recommendations and practice was seen in the pharmacotherapy of uncomplicated hypertension and hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy, renal disease, and diabetes mellitus.
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spelling doaj-art-2cb1dc6bdf71457ea9821efc7705d92a2025-08-20T02:24:18ZengWileyInternational Journal of Hypertension2090-03842090-03922018-01-01201810.1155/2018/85240638524063Doctors’ Knowledge of Hypertension Guidelines Recommendations Reflected in Their PracticeNafees Ahmad0Amer Hayat Khan1Irfanullah Khan2Amjad Khan3Muhammad Atif4Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of Balochistan, Balochistan, PakistanDiscipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, MalaysiaDiscipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, MalaysiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, PakistanDepartment of Pharmacy, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur, PakistanAim. To evaluate doctors’ knowledge, attitude, and practices and predictors of adherence to Malaysian hypertension guidelines (CPG 2008). Methods. Twenty-six doctors involved in hypertension management at Penang General Hospital were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Doctors’ knowledge and attitudes towards guidelines were evaluated through a self-administered questionnaire. Their practices were evaluated by noting their prescriptions written to 520 established hypertensive outpatients (20 prescriptions/doctor). SPSS 17 was used for data analysis. Results. Nineteen doctors (73.07%) had adequate knowledge of guidelines. Specialists and consultants had significantly better knowledge about guidelines’ recommendations. Doctors were positive towards guidelines with mean attitude score of 23.15±1.34 points on a 30-point scale. The median number of guidelines compliant prescriptions was 13 (range 5–20). Statistically significant correlation (rs = 0.635, P<0.001) was observed between doctors’ knowledge and practice scores. A total of 349 (67.1%) prescriptions written were guidelines compliant. In multivariate analysis hypertension clinic (OR = 0.398, P=0.008), left ventricular hypertrophy (OR = 0.091, P=0.001) and heart failure (OR = 1.923, P=0.039) were significantly associated with guidelines adherence. Conclusion. Doctors’ knowledge of guidelines is reflected in their practice. The gap between guidelines recommendations and practice was seen in the pharmacotherapy of uncomplicated hypertension and hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy, renal disease, and diabetes mellitus.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8524063
spellingShingle Nafees Ahmad
Amer Hayat Khan
Irfanullah Khan
Amjad Khan
Muhammad Atif
Doctors’ Knowledge of Hypertension Guidelines Recommendations Reflected in Their Practice
International Journal of Hypertension
title Doctors’ Knowledge of Hypertension Guidelines Recommendations Reflected in Their Practice
title_full Doctors’ Knowledge of Hypertension Guidelines Recommendations Reflected in Their Practice
title_fullStr Doctors’ Knowledge of Hypertension Guidelines Recommendations Reflected in Their Practice
title_full_unstemmed Doctors’ Knowledge of Hypertension Guidelines Recommendations Reflected in Their Practice
title_short Doctors’ Knowledge of Hypertension Guidelines Recommendations Reflected in Their Practice
title_sort doctors knowledge of hypertension guidelines recommendations reflected in their practice
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8524063
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AT amjadkhan doctorsknowledgeofhypertensionguidelinesrecommendationsreflectedintheirpractice
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