IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 17, Issue 2 Ver. 6 February. (2018), PP 33-39 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-1702063339 www.iosrjournals.org 33 | Page Knowledge and awareness of Hypertension among Medical Students and Junior Doctors at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital Patiala, Punjab Sahni Gurpreet* 1 , Jain Aditya* 2 , Divya* 3 , Bansal Ramta *4 , Kumar Avnish* 5 , Singh K D* 6 * 1 Senior Resident, Department of Physiology, Govt. Medical College Patiala, * 2 Assistant Professor , Department of Physiology , Govt. Medical College Patiala , * 3 Msc 2 nd year Psychiatry Nursing Desh Bhagat University. *4 Reader, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Desh Bhagat Dental College, Mandi Gobindgarh. *5 Professor, Department of Physiology, Govt. Medical College Patiala. * 6 Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Govt. Medical College Patiala. * 2 Corresponding Author: Dr Aditya Jain Abstract: Background: Hypertension is the commonest cardiovascular disorder and more than one billion adults suffer from it. The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the knowledge about hypertension among medical students, interns and residents working in GMC & RH Patiala. Materials and Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from Jan 2017 to Feb 2017 at GMC & RH Patiala on 450 participants (Final year students, Interns and residents). Our study consists of a structured, questionnaire containing multiple choice 10-item questionnaire which was focusing on diagnostic issues of hypertension (four questions), Pharmacological treatment of hypertension (three questions), therapeutic strategies regarding hypertension(two questions)and target BP (one question). RESULTS: All the questionnaire sheets were collected and analyzed in a blinded fashion for protection of personal data. The number of answers in agreement with WHO/ISH guidelines was used as an awareness measure. A score of 1 point was attributed to each correct answer to the questionnaire. This was considered adequate if correct answers to six out of 10 questions. Our study showed that overall only 157 (34.88%) subjects possessed adequate knowledge of hypertension. This was higher among residents 57 (45%), followed by medical students 9 (35.38%) and interns 8 (29.02%). Conclusion: This study has highlighted obvious deficiencies in the knowledge of the junior and future doctors of Government Medical College & Rajindra Hospital Patiala regarding hypertension, its risk factors, diagnosis and treatment. Promotion of evidence based curriculum is likely to plug the gap in deficient knowledge of our future physicians. Therefore, further efforts are required to intensify information strategies for improving professional education and training of our medical students, interns and residents. Keywords: hypertension, interns, medical students, questionnaire, residents. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 03-02-2018 Date of acceptance: 17-02-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction Hypertension is a highly prevalent, chronic, sometimes acute, condition characterized by an abnormally raised blood pressure resulting in end organ damage. It serves as barometer of effectiveness of public health education, professional education, health care system effectiveness in this country. Hypertension is strictly limited to arterial blood pressure. Normally the maximum pressure exerted via blood on the arterial walls by the heart during a contraction (systolic pressure), is below 140 mmHg while the minimum pressure on the arterial wall when the heart is relaxing between contractions is below 90 mmHg (diastolic pressure). When the cause is unknown it is designated essential hypertension. This has a genetic link within families. Secondary hypertension is where the cause is identified as in: chronic kidney disease; adrenal gland disorder, pregnancy or drug induced hypertension 1 . Cardiovascular disease is responsible for one third of global death. Importantly, CVD is eminently preventable; to achieve significant reduction in CVD, Combination of population based and high risk strategy is necessary. Hypertension is estimated to cause 71 million premature deaths and is estimated to cause 4.5% of current global disease burden, prevalent in many developing countries, as in developed world. 2