SATISFACTION WITH THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY CARE FOR PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION

Abstract

Introduction. Hypertension is one of the most common diseases, the occurrence of which is associated with a significant increase in the risk of cardiovascular complications and mortality. Satisfaction with the quality of outpatient care for patients with hypertension is becoming increasingly important in healthcare. Although there are many effective methods for managing hypertension, studies show that the treatment of arterial hypertension is unsuccessful mainly due to a lack of cooperation between patients and doctors in terms of lifestyle changes and adherence to prescribed therapy. Objective: To assess patient satisfaction with the quality of outpatient care for hypertension using a social questionnaire. Materials and methods: The study design was a single-moment cross-sectional study. The social survey was conducted among patients with hypertension between September 2023 and December 2023 in cardiologists' offices, involving 50 patients from four polyclinics in Astana. The study included patients with arterial hypertension who were registered with a general practitioner, were over 18 years of age, and were receiving treatment under a disease management program. Results: The study included 200 patients with arterial hypertension, of whom 41% were men and 59% were women. The survey results showed that 72.5% of respondents knew how to measure their own blood pressure, with 67.0% having a blood pressure monitor at their disposal. Satisfaction with the organization of the Disease Management Program was demonstrated by 47.9% of participants. Only 29.7% of respondents attended the hypertension school, which indicates insufficient involvement in the educational aspects of the program. Only 46.5% of patients expressed a willingness to recommend participation in the disease management program to their friends, which may indicate the need to improve the motivational and informational components of this program. Conclusion. Thus, in order to increase patient satisfaction and improve the effectiveness of the Disease Management Program, it is necessary to intensify the work of health schools, ensure that patients are taught the principles of selfmonitoring and the development of individual treatment plans, and strengthen the participation of primary health care specialists in patient support. This will not only improve clinical outcomes but also increase patients' responsibility for their own health.