Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention on Treatment Adherence Among Hypertensive Patients in Rural Delhi

Introduction: Hypertension is a major public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries like India, with low awareness and control rates, especially in rural areas. Poor adherence to treatment remains a significant barrier. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving medication adherence among hypertensive patients in rural Delhi. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted educational intervention package in improving treatment adherence and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients in rural Delhi. Methods: A quasi-experimental, before-and-after study was conducted among 102 hypertensive patients at the Rural Health Training Centre, Najafgarh. The intervention included flipchart-based counselling, weekly voice and text messages, and follow-up visits conducted at 2,4,6 months. Data were collected using Hill Bone Medication Adherence Scale for medical adherence. Cochran’s Q, McNemar, Chi square and logistic regression were used for statistical significance of adherence changes and associations. Results: Medication adherence increased significantly from 47 (53.9%) at baseline to 72 (70.5%) post-intervention (p < 0.001). The mean Hill Bone Scale score decreased from 31.4 ± 6.2 to 28.49 ± 4.46, indicating better adherence. Significant associations were found between adherence and regular Blood Pressure checks (p = 0.03), weight loss (p = 0.001), and blood pressure control (p = 0.02). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that educational interventions significantly improve medication adherence and blood pressure control in rural settings. Regular monitoring and lifestyle changes, especially weight loss, further enhanced adherence, highlighting the need for scalable, sustainable hypertension management strategies.