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Association Between Illness Perceptions and Medication Adherence Among Adults with Hypertension Attending the General Outpatient Clinic, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau


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 :

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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.

Paper Submission Last Date
30 - November - 2026

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