Examining the physicians' implementation and compliance with hypertension management guidelines in Namibia

Abstract

The Namibian Treatment Guidelines of 2011 for hypertension management provide evidence-based care protocols for effective management of hypertension. Documentation of health care in clients’ records is important to ensure patient safety and effective continuity of care. Documentation in this study reflected the extent of implementation and compliance with the hypertension management guidelines. The purpose of this study was to examine physicians’ implementation and compliance with hypertension management guidelines, through auditing documentation in health passports of clients diagnosed with hypertension. The guidelines were used as a framework to assess completeness of documentation. The study used a non-experimental, descriptive, retrospective quantitative research to examine the physicians’ implementation and compliance with hypertension management guidelines at the selected hospital outpatient department in Namibia. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to select client records. Data were collected by means of a structured three point Likert scale checklist. Data were analysed using the (SPSS) version 23 for Windows. The findings showed poor documentation of care provided, thus, assuming low compliance with hypertension management guidelines. Major areas of poor documentation were found in monitoring of risks factors, investigations to monitor organ damage, advise on when to seek care and client-centred health education. Based on study results, recommendations were formulated to improve quality of documentation and thus, implementation of and compliance with hypertension management guidelines.