Exploration of nurses knowledge regarding Ηypertension

The aim of the present study was to explore nurses' knowledge regarding hypertension. Method and material: The sample –studied consisted of individuals from all levels of nursing personnel. Data were collected by the use the completion of a specially designed questionnaire which apart from demographic variables, it included items concerning knowledge about hypertension. Results: From the 360 participants, 88% were women, while the mean age of the sample-studied was 36,1 years old. In terms of the knowledge of participants, 11,2% reported that knew some appropriate organization which publishes guidelines about hypertension. 39,3% of the sample-studied reported correctly the limits of blood pressure while only 3 to 10 nurses knew that hypertension in adults is mainly idiopathic. 95,2% and 85,9% of the participants knew that hypertension has disastrous effects on heart and brain, respectively. 65,7% assessed wrongly as patient of higher risk that with blood pressure within 160/95 mmHg and two cardiac risk factors. 78,1% knew that care of hypertension initially demands dietary treatment and afterwards medicine treatment. 96,3% knew that is demanded cessation of smoking and the 59,9% knew that is demanded constraint of sweet and fatty food. Regarding medicine regimen, 52,0% knew that the majority of individuals with hypertension is satisfactory regulated by the administration of more that one hypertensive medicines. 43,1% knew that in patients with diabetes mellitus or chronic renal disease, blood pressure should be maintained within <130/80 mmHg. 69,4% knew that a satisfactory regulated hypertensive patient should pay a visit to the doctor every 3-6 months. Conclusion: Findings of the present study showed that nursing staff knew the resulting damages owing to hypertension and the basic treatment dietary or physical lines of hypertensive individuals, however it was shown deficiency of knowledge regarding etiology and diagnostic boundaries of hypertension, the assessment of cardiac risk and the medicine treatment of hypertension. Finally, high percentage of the sample ignored existence of guidelines about hypertension. For the improvement of nurses' knowledge, emphasis should be given on the lifelong learning.

Keywords: Hypertension, risk factors, treatment, prevention, guidelines