gned a code which was kept under lock and key. To compensate for the time spent in filling the form, each patient was given an information brochure on hypertension. Data was entered by two separate data entry operators on epiinfo.
Statistical package for social sciences version 17 was used for analysis. Mean and standard deviation was used for quantitative variable and frequency and percentage for qualitative variables. Knowledge is reported as frequency and percentage for individual correct response to each item question and composite total score; mean (SD). Data was also stratified on basis of control of hypertension. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as average BP ≥140/90 mm Hg in no diabetic patients on treatment (for diabetic participants, hypertension will be considered to be uncontrolled if the average BP is ≥130/80 mm Hg). Controlled hypertension was defined as average BP <140/90 mm Hg in nondiabetic patients on treatment (for diabetic participants, hypertension will be considered to be uncontrolled if the average BP is <130/80 mm Hg). Student’s t test was used to compare quantitative variable and chi square test to compare categorical variable. Linear regressions were used to determine association of knowledge score with candidate variables. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the association of all these variables in one model. Dummy variables were made for variables of ethnicity and level of education as they had more than two categories. All variable which were clinically important variables, or those that were associated with the outcomes at P < 0.2 in the univariate analysis were run in the final model. Final model was adjusted for age and duration of hypertension.
A total of 650 participants were approached; 350 in AKU, 150 in DUHS and 150 in ZMU.Of the total participants who were approached and who consented, 447 were found eligible%(n); 63.5(284) from Aga Khan University, 22.6(101) from Dow University of health sciences and 13.9(62) from Ziauddin University. Overall response rate was 71.52%; 81% in AKU, 80% in DUHS and 49.6% in ZMU.
Mean (SD) age of participants was 57.7(12) years, 224(50.1) were men and 223(49.8) were women. In ethnicity 108(24.3) were of Muhajir ethinicity. In education, 208(46.5) had > 10 years formal education. Comorbid conditions are shown in Table 1. Mean (SD) duration of hypertension was 9.9(7.42) year, Systolic blood pressure was 135.1(22.4), Diastolic blood pressure was 84.4(13.2). Controlled hypertension was present in 72.3%(323) and uncontrolled hypertension was present in 27.4%(124).
Outcome of knowledge is reported as percentage(n) and mean(SD) scores have also been computed. Table 1. On computing knowledge scores for each item question, the total mean (SD) score was 20.97(4.93) out of a maximum score of 38.
Comparison of knowledge in men and women
On comparison of individual item question in men and women%(n); 57.7(128) men and 35.5(78) women agreed that hypertension means high blood pressure (p value <0.001), 93.5(203) man and 92.5(205) women agreed that hypertension can be dangerous (p value 0.93), 79.4(177) men and 60.5(135) women said that systolic blood pressure (SBP) should be <140 mm hg (p value <0.001), 78.6(176) men and 58.3(130) women said that diastolic blood pressure (DBP) should be < 90 mm hg (p value <0.001), 26.7(58) men and 11.8(26) women said that both SBP and DBP are important to control (p value <0.001, 88.8(192) men and 91.2(197) agreed that lowering blood pressure improves health (p value 0.82), 45.8(99) men and 33(71) women agreed that high blood pressure can be asymptomatic (p value 0.006), 82.8(184)men and 84(186) agreed that changing lifestyle improves blood pressure (p value 0.5), 76(166) men and 73.3(162) women agreed that hypertension is a lifelong disease (p value 0.3), 77(174) men and 72.8(161) women agreed that antihypertensives have to be taken for life (p value 0.4), 57.3(126) men and 50.4(112) said that high blood pressure is a part of aging (p value 0.4) The mean (SD) knowledge score in men was 21.8(4.9) and in women was