The interview style questionnaires cross sectional study results

263 Improving Blood Pressure Controls in Primary Care Settings pressure is 50.1 was almost the same with those who had no knowledge of normal blood pressure range. Majority of the respondents 55.8 were aware of their own latest blood pressure. Majority of the respondents 77.6 claimed that they had good compliance to antihypertensive drugs.

4.1.3 Focus group discussion

Participants are medical officers, medical assistants and nurses in charge of outpatients’ clinic in all intervention clinics in all three districts. The sessions were held separately conducted by researchers of respective districts. Aims of the sessions are to explore the problems that might affect the management of patients thus their outcome and finally to get the opinions regarding ways to improve blood pressure control. The FGD mainly focused on the knowledge of the health care provider regarding the standard and latest management of hypertension according to the Clinical Practice Guidelines CPG. FGD were carried out in all intervention and control clinics among the staff that involved in clinical the management of hypertensive patients who are medical officers, medical assistants, staff nurses and community nurses. The sessions took place in the clinic meeting room during the non busy afternoon for duration of at least 1 hour. From that discussion we found several major problems, 1. Almost all paramedics and nurses admitted that they never used the CPG in management of hypertensive patients as opposed to medical officers. 2. Majority of paramedics and nurses have limited knowledge about hypertensive disease. 3. Majority of paramedics have limited knowledge regarding the range of hypertensive drugs and dosage 4. Almost all staff said they were overloaded with work because lack of staff and as a result they could not give their best in the management of patients. 5. Many medical officers said that their treatment is limited by the availability of latest drugs. 6. Most staff said there lack of structured programmes on management of hypertension in their clinics such as CME.