Abstract

• The purpose of this study was to investigate the compliance behavior of hypertensive patients in light of their health belief model that explains an individual's compliance with health maintenance or getting well. Although there are many effective regimens and treatments for hypertension nowadays, the most important point to be taken to consideration in their behavioral aspect is their compliance with regard to the control of body weight, eating habits as to salt and cholesterol intake, stresses, activity patterns and smoking as related to their life style. The important reasons for the failure in the control of hypertensive patients are the complexity of regimens to be complied to, irregular medication and the life long restrictions in their own life style. The compliance of patients to medical regimens and rocommendations or failure to do so is an essential factor. Accordingly, the degree of the patient's compliance is an important determinant as to the success or failure of hypertension control. The subjects for this study were 187 hypertensive patients selected from admitted and out patients of the medical department at seven University Hospitals in Seoul. Data was collected from Dec. 1, 1979 to Feb. 15, 1980 using the questionaire method and was analys ed by the use of means, standard deviations, coefficient of correlations, analysis of variance and mul tiple regression analysis. The results obtained are as follows : A. Of the seven independent variables in light of health belief model, benefit, barrier and severity are closely related to patient's compliance behavior. Therefore these variables could be used as determinants to predict and modify the hypertensive behavior. 1. Benefit is the most important and significant of the variables for explaining the dependent variables. It accounts for the highest variance of patient's compliance. (23.62%) 2. Then taking the former together with barrier, the variance of compliance showed on increase. (26 .59%) 3. And with the addition of severity to the first two. the variance of compliance was also increased. (28.12%) B. Except for susceptibility all the independent variables such as severity, benefit, knowledge, motivation and barrier are correlated to dependent variable compliance. C. Sex, marital status and religion appeared to have significant influence on the dependent variables. Therefore one could conclude that the more the patients are aware that hypertension is a threat to health, the more they understand the benefit of taking actions to prevent such a threat, and the less they perceive any barrier when taking action. the more compliant they become in following medical regimens and recommendations. Age, marital status and religion played a significant influence to their compliance. Accordingly, the selected structural variables and demographic variables which have influenced sick role behavior of the hypertensive patient must be integrated to teaching and counselling programs for better hypertension control.

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