From physician-driven to patient-driven health education: The need to incorporate motivational interviewing in the management of hypertension in Nigeria – A review

Abstract

Hypertension and other chronic diseases like heart diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic lung diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Management of hypertension has been mainly pharmacological. Non pharmacological management through effecve health educaon on healthy lifestyle modificaon and medicaon adherence has been shown to improve outcome in the management of chronic diseases including hypertension. Health educaon in Nigeria is currently physician driven making it difficult for paent to comply with treatment protocol and follow up. This has led to poor treatment outcome in the management of hypertension and other chronic diseases. Adopng shared decision making (SDM) through the use of movaonal interviewing, a paent-driven, physician-directed counselling approach that helps paent resolves ambivalence through collaboraon, evocaon and autonomy. Movaonal interviewing has been used successfully in other countries to effect posive behavioural change and improved health outcome. It has also been shown to improve adopon of healthy lifestyle and medicaon adherence. When incorporated into primary care pracce in Nigeria, it will help improve outcome in the management of chronic diseases like hypertension.