Awareness about hypertension among first year undergraduate medical students in HUCOM, Hadhramout, Yemen

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is currently a global
health problem leading to a high number of deaths
in a day. Therefore, people need to be aware of
various aspects regarding hypertension.
Objective: The aim of this study is to determine
the level of awareness about the different aspects
of hypertension among first year undergraduate
medical students in HUCOM, Yemen.
Methods: A cross sectional study among medical
students enrolled in first year, in the three academic programs (Medicine, Pharm D, and Laboratory)
of HUCOM, with the use of a validated, self-administered questionnaire on different domains of
hypertension such as general knowledge, symptoms, complications, risk factors, treatment and
management. Data were collected from first of
March 2018 to end of April 2018. The sample included 150 students.
Results: Out of 150 participants, 86 participants
were ≤19 years where female accounted for 64%,
and males 36%. Domain with highest level of
awareness was treatment and management (medication –95.3%), followed by symptoms (severe
headache –80%), risk factors (stress –75%), lastly organ affected (brain –70%). Some knowledge
gaps were identified in the domains: organ affected (eye – 48%, heart – 50%), risk factors (gender
– 41.3%, age – 44.7%), symptoms (bleeding from
nose– 56.7).
Conclusion: The study shows overall good level
of awareness in most domains related to hypertension with some gaps noted in others.