Date of Award

12-2010

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program

Health Science Administration

Research Advisor

Dick R. Gourley, Pharm.D.

Committee

Samuel Dagogo-Jack, M.D. Robert J. Nolly, M.S. George Relyea, M.S. Shelley I. White-Means, Ph.D.

Keywords

hypertension, knowledge, psychometrics

Abstract

The primary objective of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of a hypertension knowledge instrument in a vulnerable population. The secondary objective was to determine the association between hypertension knowledge and outcomes such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 196 adults aged 18 years and older with hypertension. Item analysis was conducted to determine the reliability of the instrument. The factor structure was determined and confirmed using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between hypertension knowledge and hypertension-related outcomes.

The Cronbach's alpha for the original hypertension knowledge instrument was 0.597. Using results from the item analysis and the exploratory factor analysis, the refined instrument produced a Cronbach's alpha of 0.598. A three-factor solution was confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis. Hypertension knowledge was not significantly associated with any hypertension-related outcome.

The hypertension knowledge instrument exhibits acceptable psychometric properties. More research needs to be done to confirm the psychometric properties of the instrument and to elucidate the relationship between hypertension knowledge and outcomes.

DOI

10.21007/etd.cghs.2010.0267

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