Social Determinates of Health Action Plan

Introduction

Non-compliance is the failure to adhere to medication, which may result in severe repercussions for a patient’s health and overall well-being, particularly in chronic illnesses like hypertension. The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that hypertension impacts over 124.4 million individuals in the United States (Fang et al., 2020). Despite the significance of medication adherence in controlling hypertension, studies have shown that non-compliance rates vary from 35-50% (Fang et al., 2020). Failure to adhere to medication may result in higher rates of hospitalization, cardiovascular incidents, and mortality. Moreover, it may impose a substantial financial burden on patients and the healthcare system. It is essential to identify patient groups at risk for non-compliance and create effective action plans to address this issue. The paper will address the at-risk patient group for non-compliance in hypertension and provide evidence-based interventions to enhance medication access, compliance, and monitoring.

Background

Hypertension is a significant risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Hypertension is characterized by sustained elevation of blood pressure over 130/80 mmHg and is often known as the “silent killer” due to its often asymptomatic nature. Hypertension is more common in some geographical regions, especially in poor and middle-income countries. The highest prevalence of hypertension in the United States is seen in the southeastern states, referred to as the “stroke belt” (Howard, 2023). This is attributed to a variety of causes, including high rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet.

Cultural factors can significantly influence the prevalence of hypertension. African Americans have higher rates of hypertension due to genetic predisposition and socioeconomic circumstances. Hypertension is more common in older persons, as well as those with lower levels of education and income.

Challenges in Practice

Hypertension needs lifelong management due to its chronic nature. Several barriers may hinder patient compliance. These barriers include restricted healthcare access, expensive medications, and inadequate transportation to healthcare facilities. Moreover, patients may encounter cultural and linguistic barriers impacting their comprehension and treatment regimen adherence. Furthermore, inadequate health literacy might impede patients’ comprehension of hypertension and its management (Etminani et al., 2020). This may need to comprehend the significance of medication adherence and routine blood pressure monitoring.

Action Plan

An action plan must be developed to improve medication adherence in hypertension, taking into consideration the barriers mentioned. The first step in the action plan is to enhance patient education and health literacy. Patients need a comprehensive understanding of hypertension, its impact on the body, and the significance of medication adherence in preventing problems. This may be accomplished via individual education sessions with healthcare providers or group education sessions led by trained educators.

The next step is to tackle the issue of medication cost and access. One way to do this is by linking patients with pharmaceutical assistance programs and investigating cost-effective alternatives like generic medications. Healthcare providers must also ensure that patients have access to regular blood pressure monitoring. Remote monitoring technologies, mobile health clinics, or community-based health screenings may achieve this. Accessible and affordable healthcare increases patient adherence to treatment strategies.

Discussion

Lack of compliance with hypertension treatment regimens is a multifaceted problem with several contributing elements. The recommended action plan aims to enhance medication access, compliance, adherence, and monitoring using a holistic strategy. The approach focuses on community engagement, educating patients, improving healthcare accessibility, implementing inexpensive drug initiatives, providing patient-centered treatment, and conducting frequent monitoring. Implementing this approach may enhance the health outcomes of hypertensive individuals in the community and alleviate the burden of hypertension on the healthcare system.

Implications

The proposed action plan has many consequences for implementation and policy. The first point emphasizes the significance of dealing with non-compliance as a public health concern. Secondly, it shows the need for a comprehensive strategy to tackle several obstacles to following drug regimens. Thirdly, it emphasizes the importance of community health workers and other healthcare practitioners in delivering patient-centered care. Regular monitoring and assessment are crucial for the effectiveness of any intervention designed to enhance drug adherence.

Stakeholders

The action plan’s success depends significantly on the involvement of different stakeholders. This includes healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, community groups, and patients. Healthcare providers must be engaged in patient education, consistent monitoring, and follow-up care. Pharmaceutical companies should provide cost-effective medications and engage in pharmaceutical assistance initiatives. Community groups may provide education and support services for patients, especially those from low-income communities. Patients must actively participate in their care plan, which includes managing medication and regularly checking their blood pressure.

Evaluation

Various measures may be used to assess the effectiveness of the action plan. The first measure is medication adherence, which may be evaluated by self-report and pharmacy refill records. The second measure involves monitoring blood pressure via regular measurements to ensure management. Additionally, the number of hospitalizations and cardiovascular events may be used to assess the effectiveness of the action plan. We can assess the action plan’s success in enhancing medication access and compliance and monitoring for non-compliance in the at-risk group by comparing these measures before and after implementation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hypertension is a common chronic illness that requires effective management to prevent consequences. Non-adherence to medication is a significant challenge in controlling hypertension. Identifying high-risk patient groups and creating effective strategies to tackle this issue is essential. To enhance medication access, compliance, and monitoring for non-compliance in the at-risk population, we may engage several stakeholders and tackle obstacles such as limited education, medication costs, and healthcare accessibility. The effectiveness of the action plan may be evaluated by many measures that evaluate medication adherence, blood pressure management, and the frequency of hospitalizations and cardiovascular events. Through this initiative, we may strive to enhance the health outcomes of patients with hypertension and lessen the burden on patients and the healthcare system.

References

Etminani, K., Tao Engström, A., Göransson, C., Sant’Anna, A., & Nowaczyk, S. (2020). How behavior change strategies are used to design digital interventions to improve medication adherence and blood pressure among patients with hypertension: Systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(4), e17201. https://doi.org/10.2196/17201

Fang, J., Chang, T., Wang, G., & Loustalot, F. (2020). Association between cost-related medication non-adherence and hypertension management among US adults. American Journal of Hypertension, 33(9), 879–886. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpaa072

Howard, V. J. (2023). Correction to: Heart disease and stroke statistics—2023 update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 148(4). https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000001167