OBJECTIVE:

Hypertension is an important public health problem with high prevelance. The aim of our study is to assess the knowledge, opinion and approach of polyclinic patients to hypertension at a primary health care center in Izmir.

MATERIALS and METHODS:

This descriptive study was performed in a primary health care center in Izmir with 245 participants attending to this primary health care center during September 2006. Study data was collected by a two part questionnaire, using face to face interview. The data was evaluated by descriptive statatistics, chi square and Fisher exact tests. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors effecting the knowledge on hypertension and p<0.05 was accepted significant.

RESULTS:

The mean age of the participants was 49.32±16.84 and %62 of them were women, %49 were primary school graduates and %75.5 of them were with low socioeconomic level. %12.7 of the participants knew the hypertension levels correctly and %19.6 of them had their blood pressure measured when they attented to a clinic because of a problem. There was a significant difference between hypertension awareness level and socioeconomic level (p<0.05). Socioeconomic level was found as an effecting factor on hypertension awareness level by logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSION:

We found the knowledge levels of the participants at a low level. Effective, acceptible and applicable community based protection and education projects should be performed about hypertension which is an important public health problem in the region. By this way the knowledge and awareness of society about hypertension will be raised and attitude and behaviour changes will be able to be realized.

Keywords: Hypertension, primary health care center, knowledge level, attitude