Health Facility Preferences of Patients in the Follow-up of Hypertension and Affecting Factors

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the reasons for choosing a healthcare institution in the follow-up of hypertension patients who applied to a tertiary healthcare institution.

Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 286 patients with hypertension who applied to the Cardiology Outpatient Clinic of Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital. In the study, an introductory information form and a questionnaire on hypertension and its follow-up, prepared by the research team through a literature review, were applied to the participants through a face-to-face interview.

Results: The mean age of the 286 participants was 61.53±12.05 years, and 54.2% were 60 or older. In the follow-up of hypertension treatment, 72% of the participants preferred a university hospital, 57.3% preferred a family health center, and 23.8% preferred a state hospital. Participants older than 60 years and with primary education or less mostly preferred family health centers for their hypertension treatment follow-ups.

Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that the participants had their hypertension treatment follow-ups in more than one healthcare institution. They also tended to have follow-ups in the center where they were diagnosed. Factors that significantly affect the healthcare institution preferences in the follow-up of hypertension treatment include age, educational status, the center where the hypertension was diagnosed, and their perception of the effectiveness of the family physician’s treatment. In this context, attention should be paid to the fact that the primary care administration addresses all segments of society, and to the periodic health examinations.