Purpose:
The study assessed
the knowledge of both HIV and non-HIV hypertensive
patients on hypertension and the role of pharmacists in
their pharmaceutical care.
Methods:
The study was conducted at the hypertension and HIV
clinics in government hospitals in Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania. Patients were interviewed using a structured
questionnaire and pharmacists were assessed using a
self-administered questionnaire and by observation.
Results:
Few patients in
both groups knew the names of antihypertensive medicines
they were taking. Information on the use of
antihypertensive and antiretroviral (ARV) medicines was
mostly provided by doctors. Adverse drug reactions were
significantly more when patient used both ARVs and
antihypertensive medicines than when they used only
antihypentsives. Only 20 % of hypertensive-HIV patients
informed the pharmacist dispensing antihypertensive
medicines that they were using ARVs, and only 19 % of
the pharmacists knew the drug interactions between ARVs
and antihypertensive medicines. During dispensing, about
2 % of the patients were asked about other medicines
being used.
Conclusion:
There is a need
to improve patients� knowledge of hypertension. The
pharmacists should also have up-to-date knowledge of
hypertension-HIV co-morbidity. Proper coordination
between HIV and hypertension clinics and the full
integration of a pharmacist in the health care team can
help to improve patient care.
Keywords:
Hypertension, HIV/AIDS,
Antiretroviral medicines, Antihypertensive medicines,
Adverse drug reaction, Dispensing, Knowledge.