• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.336-342
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• 2007

Treatment of hypertension is important in reducing death and attack rates by Ischemic heart disease (IHD). The purposes of this study are to investigate recent prescriptions for patients with IHD and to evaluate antihypertensive drug use. On the basis of the guidelines proposed by Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure, we analyzed prescriptions of antihypertensive drugs for patients with IHD. It is necessary to set up new guideline for appropriate treatment to lower death and attack rates for patients with IHD.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.255-264
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• 2008

Objectives: This study adopted a qualitative method to explore the layman's beliefs and experience concerning high blood pressure and its management in order to develop a strategy to increase adherence to proper medical treatment. Methods: Semi-structured interviews that focused on personal experiences with hypertension and its management were conducted with 26 hypertensive patients. The participants were selected according to a BP above 140/90 mmHg (hypertension stage 1), based on the seventh report of the Joint National Committee on prevention, detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure (JNC-VII). The interviews lasted for approximately 30 minutes (range: 20-60 minutes). The resulting questions were formulated into open-ended questions. The interview questionnaire was composed 17 items to examine non-adherence to treatment and 19 items to examine adherence to treatment. Results: Most participants recognized that the direct cause of high blood pressure was unhealthy behavior rather than inheritance. Thus, the hypertensive patient believed they could recover their blood pressure to a normal level through removing the direct cause of hypertension (weight reduction, diet, exercise) instead of taking drugs. The reasons for these statements were that the drugs for controlling hypertension are not natural or they are artificial, and they may have side effects, and drugs are not treatment for the root cause of hypertension. Most of the hypertensive patients chose to manage their behaviors as soon as they knew their blood pressure was high. Therefore, we should not divide the subjects into two groups according to their taking drugs or not, but they should be divided into two groups according to their willingness or not to manage their condition. Conclusions: For developing a strategy for an individual approach to hypertension management, we need to develop a client-centered attitude and strategy. That is, we need to tailor our approach to individual cases to avoid generalizations and stereotyping when developing an adherence increasing strategy.