Enfermedades no transmisibles: conocimientos y prácticas para la prevención de la hipertensión arterial en adultos. Biblián y Déleg, 2023”

Abstract

Introduction: Arterial hypertension is a high-prevalence pathology that affects adults' health worldwide; it has become a significant risk factor for developing other diseases, such as cardiovascular, renal, and cerebrovascular conditions. Objective: To assess the knowledge and practices on preventing adult arterial hypertension. Methodology: A correlational, observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 690 participants. A questionnaire validated by the judgment of 6 expert nurses was used, comprising 45 questions with dichotomous answers to which correct and incorrect answers were assigned with 1 and 0 points. High, medium, and low measurement scales were utilized for knowledge and adequate and inadequate options for practice. Statistical analysis was performed with the Jamovi software. Results: Women represented 53%, 39.4% were married, 47.1% had secondary education, 53.8% were affiliated with the IESS (Ecuadorian Social Security Institute by its Spanish acronym), and 78.7% had no comorbidities. Eighty-eight percent had a high level of knowledge, and 58% had inadequate practices. There is a significant relationship among knowledge, practices, and age, with a p-value of 0.01, and between practices and gender, with a p-value of 0.01, and female gender and knowledge, with a p-value of 0.01; there is no correlation between knowledge and male gender with a p-value of 0.007. Conclusion: Most respondents demonstrate a high level of knowledge about arterial hypertension prevention; however, a considerable percentage of participants do not have good practices.