Authors :
Dan-Inna Muhammad Zaharadeen; Abdulrasak Amusa; Abdulrahaman Umar; Badru Lawal; Zaharaddin Lawal Maishanu; Lubabatu Muhammad Dan-Inna; Aminu Abdullahi; Umar Muhammad Dan-Inna; Yunusa Muhammad; Malami Muhammad Bello; Ibrahim, Danlami Abdulmajeed; Mohammed Yusuf; Arisegi Sarafadeen Adeniyi
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 10 - October
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/y4phrm56
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26Oct1472
Note : A published paper may take 4-5
working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and
ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Background: High blood pressure is a significant preventable risk factor associated with cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and chronic kidney disease. Medication non-adherence remains an important barrier to blood-pressure control, particularly in subSaharan Africa. Research findings regarding the association between illness perceptions and medication adherence remain inconsistent. Objective: To assess the association between illness perception and medication adherence among hypertensive patients attending the General Outpatient Clinic of Federal Medical Centre Gusau. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study which included 138 hypertensive patients who have been taken medications for blood pressure control for a minimum of 3 months. Participants were selected by systematic random sampling. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire assessed participants' illness perceptions, and the 8-items Morisky Medication Adherence Scale was used to assess the medication adherence of the respondents. The relationship between Perception of illness and antihypertensive medication adherence was assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test.
Keywords :
Hypertension; Illness Perception; Medication Adherence; Nigeria; Cross-Sectional Studies; Outpatients.
References :
- Aminde LN, Agbor VN, Fongwen NT, Ngwasiri CA, Nkoke C, Nji MA, et al. High burden and trend in nonadherence to blood pressure-lowering medications: meta-analysis of data from over 34 000 adults with hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025;14(9):1-13
- Okwuonu CG, Ojimadu NE, Okaka EI, Akemokwe FM. Patient-related barriers to hypertension control in a Nigerian population. Int J Gen Med. 2014;7:345-353.
- Leventhal H, Phillips LA, Burns E. The Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM): a dynamic framework for understanding illness self-management. J Behav Med. 2016;39(6):935-946.
- Hagger MS, Orbell S. A meta-analytic review of the common-sense model of illness representations. Psychol Health. 2003;18(2):141-184.
- Afolayan OF, Ayadi AO, Solomon OA, Agboola SM, Ibrahim AO, Olusuyi KM, et al. The relationship between illness perception and medication adherence in hypertensive patients attending the General Out-Patient Clinics, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, South-West Nigeria. Niger Health J. 2026;26(1):298-308.
- Okafor U, Nnadi IK, Onwuchuluba EE. The role of knowledge and perception of hypertension in adherence to drug therapy among hypertensive adults in Lagos, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. J Curr Biomed Res. 2024;4(3):1663-1682.
- Peltzer K, Khoza LB, Lekhuleni ME, Alberts M, Mekwa J, Sethosa E. Illness cognitions, doctor-patient communication and prescription adherence among first diagnosed hypertensive patients from a rural teaching hospital in South Africa. Health SA Gesondheid. 2003 Mar 1;8(1):57-68.
- Alfian SD, Annisa N, Perwitasari DA, Coelho A, Abdulah R. The role of illness perceptions on medication nonadherence among patients with hypertension: a multicenter study in Indonesia. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:1-7
- Ozumba LN, Dienye P, Ndukwu G. Role of illness perception and medication beliefs in medication adherence among hypertensive patients in South-South Nigeria. Anatol J Fam Med. 2023;6(1):31-36.
- G/Tsadik D, Berhane Y, Worku A. Adherence to antihypertensive treatment and associated factors in Central Ethiopia. Int J Hypertens. 2020;2020:9540810. doi:10.1155/2020/9540810 (accessed 2/11/2026)
- Otenyo SO, Kereri DK. Illness perceptions and adherence to medication regimen among hypertensive patients attending a County Referral Hospital in Kenya. J Hypertens Manag. 2021;7(1):059. doi:10.23937/2474-3690/1510059 (accessed 2/11/2026
- Adisa R, Ilesanmi OA, Fakeye TO. Treatment adherence and blood pressure outcome among hypertensive out-patients in two tertiary hospitals in Sokoto, North western Nigeria. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2018;18:194.( 3/11/2026)
- Broadbent E, Petrie KJ, Main J, Weinman J. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. J Psychosom Res. 2006;60(6):631-637.
- Morisky DE, Green LW, Levine DM. Concurrent and predictive validity of a self-reported measure of medication adherence. Med Care. 1986;24(1):67-74.
- Baharvand P, Malekshahi F, Babakhani A. Perception of hypertension and adherence to hypertension treatment among patients attending a hospital in western Iran: a cross-sectional study. Health Sci Rep. 2023;6(8):e1501. doi:10.1002/hsr2.1501 (accessed 3/11/2026)
- Chen SL, Tsai JC, Lee WL. The impact of illness perception on adherence to therapeutic regimens of patients with hypertension in Taiwan. J Clin Nurs. 2009;18(15):2234-2244.
- Chen SL, Tsai JC, Chou KR. Illness perceptions and adherence to therapeutic regimens among patients with hypertension: a structural modelling approach. Int J Nurs Stud. 2011;48(2):235-245.
- Hsiao CY, Chang C, Chen CD. An investigation on illness perception and adherence among hypertensive patients. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2012;28(8):442-447.
- Rajpura J, Nayak R. Medication adherence in a sample of elderly suffering from hypertension: evaluating the influence of illness perceptions, treatment beliefs, and illness burden. J Manag Care Pharm. 2014;20(1):58-65.
- Babazadeh T, Ranjbaran S, Pourrazavi S, Latifi A, Maleki Chollou K. Impact of health literacy and illness perception on medication adherence among older adults with hypertension in Iran: a cross-sectional study. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1-7
- Spikes T, Higgins M, Lewis T, Dunbar SB. The associations among illness perceptions, resilient coping, and medication adherence in young adult hypertensive Black women. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2019;21(11):1695-1704. ( accessed 3/11/2026)
- Taylor KD, Adedokun A, Awobusuyi O, Adeniran P, Onyia E, Ogedegbe G. Explanatory models of hypertension among Nigerian patients at a university teaching hospital. Ethn Health. 2012;17(6):615-629.
- Olugbake OA, Odugbemi OT. Influence of patients' knowledge of hypertension and beliefs about medicines on adherence in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos. J Basic Soc Pharm Res. 2020;1(3):11-20.
- Gebreyohannes EA, Bhagavathula AS, Abebe TB, Tefera YG, Abegaz TM. Adverse effects and non-adherence to antihypertensive medications in University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialised Hospital. Clin Hypertens. 2019;25:1-9
- Macquart de Terline D, Kramoh KE, Bara Diop I, Nhavoto C, Balde DM, Ferreira B, et al. Poor adherence to medication and salt restriction as a barrier to reaching blood pressure control in patients with hypertension: cross-sectional study from 12 sub-Saharan countries. Arch Cardiovasc Dis. 2020;113(6-7):433-442.
- Hing M, Hoffman RM, Seleman J, Chibwana F, Kahn D, Moucheraud C. "Blood pressure can kill you tomorrow, but HIV gives you time": illness perceptions and treatment experiences among Malawian individuals living with HIV and hypertension. Health Policy Plan. 2019;34(Suppl 2):36-44.
Background: High blood pressure is a significant preventable risk factor associated with cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and chronic kidney disease. Medication non-adherence remains an important barrier to blood-pressure control, particularly in subSaharan Africa. Research findings regarding the association between illness perceptions and medication adherence remain inconsistent. Objective: To assess the association between illness perception and medication adherence among hypertensive patients attending the General Outpatient Clinic of Federal Medical Centre Gusau. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study which included 138 hypertensive patients who have been taken medications for blood pressure control for a minimum of 3 months. Participants were selected by systematic random sampling. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire assessed participants' illness perceptions, and the 8-items Morisky Medication Adherence Scale was used to assess the medication adherence of the respondents. The relationship between Perception of illness and antihypertensive medication adherence was assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test.
Keywords :
Hypertension; Illness Perception; Medication Adherence; Nigeria; Cross-Sectional Studies; Outpatients.