Communication and Educational Work by General Practitioners in Latvia: Essential Factors for Regular Antihypertensive Medication Use

Objectives
This study evaluated the association between patients’ experience regarding general practitioners’ (GP) communication, educational work, and regular antihypertensive medication use among 30—to 74-year-old adults
with arterial hypertension (AH) in Latvia.
Materials and Methods
A cross-sectional study of 930 participants aged 30-74 (median age 62, 38.7% male) with AH from a population survey in Latvia in 2022 was conducted. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the regularity of antihypertensive medication use in relation to experience with GPs’ attitude, availability, and appraisal of provided information about the disease, its treatment plan, and complications, adjusting for age, sex, and education.
Results
Most of the participants with AH have been prescribed antihypertensive medications (90.1%, n=839). The majority of them reported regular antihypertensive medication use (84.2%) as well as being satisfied with various
communication aspects with a GP (88.7-95.3%) and the information provided about their disease (82.3-92.4%). Receiving information about the health risks of AH (aOR=4.18, p=0.007), being completely satisfied with their GP (aOR=2.81, p=0.011) and the provided information about the diagnostic and treatment plan (aOR=2.04, p=0.006), alternative treatment options (aOR=2.35, p<0.001), and possible complications (aOR=1.70, p=0.036) increased the odds of regular antihypertensive medication use. Also, GP being easy to contact (aOR=2.16,
p=0.002) and no difficulties with medication prescriptions (aOR=2.45, p=0.029) increased the odds of regular antihypertensive medication use. No significant association was observed between regular medication use and the GP being com-passionate or patient satisfaction with information about the disease and possible side effects of medications.
Conclusions
GP-provided educational and well-explained information about the risks of arterial hypertension, diagnostic and treatment plans, alternative treatment options, and potential complications is positively associated with regular antihypertensive medication use. Additionally, the accessibility of GP and a seamless prescription process increase the odds of consistent medication use. These results highlight the importance of strengthening GP-patient interactions to improve hypertension management.