@article{A_._R_2015, title={IMPACTS OF COUNSELING ON ADHERENCE TO PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS AND BLOOD PRESSURE OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN FOUR INDONESIAN PRIMARY HEALTH CENTERS}, volume={7}, url={https://journals.innovareacademics.in/index.php/ijpps/article/view/4285}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyze the impacts of pharmacist counseling on adherence to medications and reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP/DBP) of hypertensive outpatients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retro-prospective cohort study was undertaken to evaluate the impacts of two-month period counseling on medication adherence and SBP/DBP of hypertensive patients (n=47) insured by Social Security Organizing Body in primary health centers (Medan Deli, Helvetia, Darussalam, and Teladan) in Medan. Inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with hypertension, age ≥ 18 years, and under treatment of antihypertensive drugs. A questionnaire was used to assess characteristics of the patients, antihypertensive drugs provided, and BP. The eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) of each patient was assessed. Characteristics of the patients and antihypertensive drugs provided were descriptively analyzed. Impacts of counseling on medication adherence and SBP/DBP of the patients were analyzed using Wilcoxon test. All analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 19, Chicago, IL, USA) (p value <0.05 was considered significant).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Characteristics of the patients: male, 23.4%, female, 76.6%, mean age, 61.22 ± 9.90 (years). MMAS-8 score improved significantly from 4.58 before counseling to 6.28 after counseling, <em>p</em> = 0.000. There was a reduction in SBP from 160.49±23.15 mmHg before counseling to 149.04 ± 21.02 mmHg after counseling, <em>p</em> = 0.001. DBP also reduced from 91.23 ± 12.82 mmHg before counseling to 87.14 ± 9.94 mmHg after counseling, <em>p</em> = 0.014.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Counseling improves adherence to prescribed medications and BP in hypertensive patients.</p><p> </p>}, number={3}, journal={International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences}, author={A, Nasution and ., Khairunnisa and R, Tanjung H}, year={2015}, month={Mar.}, pages={114–117} }