Association between medication literacy and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients

Aim This study aimed to explore the association between medication literacy and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients. Background Blood pressure control is a challenge for global health systems. Medication literacy is essential for medication self‐management in hypertensive patients and a basis for managers to develop comprehensive intervention strategies for hypertension medication use. Design A cross‐sectional observational study was conducted. Methods A total of 378 hypertensive patients was selected by convenience sampling from two tertiary hospitals and four community health service centres from December 2021 to January 2022 in Changsha, China. Associations between medication literacy and blood pressure control were identified with chi‐square, independent samples t‐tests and logistic regression analyses. Results The average medication literacy score of the hypertensive patients investigated was low. Over a third of patients had uncontrolled blood pressure. Logistic regression analysis showed that medication literacy was an influencing factor for blood pressure control rate in hypertensive patients. Conclusions Medication literacy and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients was poor. Medication literacy was a facilitator of blood pressure control so improving medication literacy may be of value to improve blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Summary statement What is already known about this topic? Medication literacy is essential for medication self‐management in hypertensive patients The association between medication literacy and blood pressure control in hypertensive patients is unclear. What this paper adds? Medication literacy and blood pressure control rates among hypertensive patients were poor and in need of urgent improvement. Medication literacy was a facilitator of blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. The implications of this paper: Clinical nurses may enhance hypertension management by improving medication literacy. Findings provide a base for implementing medication literacy intervention strategies and promoting blood pressure management.