Table 4 Characteristics and practices of the healthcare workers who provided the medication and instructions regarding it for the patients
From: Adherence to antihypertensive medications in rural Lao PDR: a prospective observational study
Adherent group (n = 34) | Non-adherent group (n = 34) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Ethnic group | |||
Lao (Lao-Tai) | 29 (51.8) | 27 (48.2) | 0.35b |
Mangkong (Mon–Khmer) | 0 (0) | 3 (100) | |
Phouthay (Lao-Tai) | 5 (55.6) | 4 (44.4) | |
Profession | |||
Medical doctor | 18 (50.0) | 18 (50.0) | 0.84b |
Pharmacist | 7 (50.0) | 7 (50.0) | |
Nurse | 6 (66.7) | 3 (33.3) | |
Medical assistant | 2 (40.0) | 3 (60.0) | |
Primary healthcare staff | 1 (33.3) | 2 (66.7) | |
Laboratory assistant | 0 (0) | 1 (100) | |
Experience (years), mean (SD) | 2.7 (0.7) | 2.7 (0.67) | 0.95a |
Medication instructions | |||
Provided oral instructions | 34 (50.0) | 34 (50.0) | –b |
Provided written instructions | 27 (58.7) | 19 (41.3) | 0.068b |
Content of medication instructions | |||
Number of tablets per dose | 34 (50.0) | 34 (50.0) | –b |
Number of doses per day | 33 (50.0) | 33 (50.0) | 1.0b |
Number of days of the regimen | 21 (46.7) | 24 (53.3) | 0.61b |
Effects of the medicine | 20 (55.6) | 16 (44.4) | 0.47b |
Side effects | 19 (57.6) | 14 (42.4) | 0.33b |
Importance of continuing to take medicines | 20 (57.1) | 15 (42.9) | 0.33b |
Confirmed understanding of the patient | 17 (53.1) | 15 (46.9) | 0.81b |