Support needs of people living with hypertension in Ghana: the voices of the patients

BACKGROUND: Hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and is prevalent worldwide, especially in low- to middle-income countries. Globally, it is poorly controlled, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, and patients experience several challenges in adhering to recommended interventions. The study aimed at exploring and describing the support needs expressed by patients with hypertension in an urban primary care setting in Ghana to inform the development of a psychoeducational programme to support the management of hypertension. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design was employed in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Thirty-five participants were purposively sampled. Each interview lasted for 30-60 min until data saturation was achieved. Inductive content analysis was used to analyse the data. Ethics committee approval was secured for this study. RESULTS: Four main themes and ten sub-themes emerged from the study. The main themes: (i) health information needs from healthcare providers, (ii) lifestyle modifications, (iii) Patient self-care, and (iv) psychosocial support. Sub-themes include blood pressure monitoring and interpretation, the mechanism of medications, side effects of medications, complications of hypertension, dietary modifications, stress management, the importance of exercise, medication adherence, attending regular checkups, and emotional and psychological support. CONCLUSION: The findings identify patient-expressed needs that can guide the design of future psychoeducational interventions for hypertension management.