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Perspectives on antihypertensive medication: a qualitative study in a rural Yogyakarta province in Indonesia

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Abstract

Aim

Patients’ perceptions and beliefs underpin their adherence to pharmacotherapeutic regimens and are influenced by access to appropriate information and education. This study explores the perceptions of lay persons from a low-resource community in Indonesia regarding antihypertension medication.

Methodology

Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed and thematically analysed. Fourteen respondents (i.e. older persons with hypertension and lay health workers) from a local community-based health programme in Yogyakarta province (Indonesia) were recruited for this qualitative study.

Results

Four themes emerged: (1) participants felt that medication for hypertension is unnecessary, instead preferring lifestyle changes and traditional medicines; (2) a fear of becoming dependent on medication underpinned non-adherence to antihypertensive agents—participants with hypertension wanted to achieve normal blood pressure, but without taking long-term medication; (3) symptom-based drivers for treatment led participants to rank other health problems a higher priority than hypertension; and (4) although lay health workers had an opportunity to provide information about hypertension and its management, participants themselves considered this to be currently inadequate.

Conclusion

Some misconceptions regarding the role of antihypertension medication that negatively influenced adherence were identified. Beliefs that hypertension can be easily treated by lifestyle modifications can undermine motivation to take antihypertensive agents. Participants expressed their need for more targeted information about hypertension and its treatment; however, they do not expect to obtain such information from their physician. The potential role of lay health workers needs to be further explored as a strategy to enhance understanding and adherence.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for contributions from all study participants. We also acknowledge the Head of the Bantul Health District for permitting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Health: Discipline of Pharmacy, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), CB 01.13, Broadway, PO BOX 123, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Riana Rahmawati & Beata Bajorek

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Beata Bajorek

  3. Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Indonesia, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

    Riana Rahmawati

Authors
  1. Riana Rahmawati
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Correspondence to Riana Rahmawati.

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Funding

No specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sections was received to conduct this study or prepare this report.

Conflict of interest

R. Rahmawati and B. Bajorek declare no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this manuscript.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was obtained from the appropriate authorities before commencement of the study. Informed consent was obtained from all patients.

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Rahmawati, R., Bajorek, B. Perspectives on antihypertensive medication: a qualitative study in a rural Yogyakarta province in Indonesia. Drugs Ther Perspect 32, 76–83 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-015-0263-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-015-0263-4

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