Table 3.

Example of qualitative content analysis process

Meaning unit	Condensed meaning unit	Code	Subcategory	Category	Subtheme	Theme
When I take Amlopres, my blood pressure fall to 12 and it makes me not to be fine, i.e. when my blood pressure is 16, I feel better than when it is 12. (Patient No. 8)	By improving blood pressure the symptoms were manifested	Appearance of symptoms by blood pressure improvement	Get the habit to hypertension	Being connected to the nature of disease and treatment	The floating platform of the hypertensive treatment adherence iceberg	Hypertensive treatment adherence as an iceberg
Since I have done regular checkups in previous years my hypertension was detected, otherwise I had no hypertensive symptoms such as dizziness or being uncomfortable. (Patient No. 9)	No symptoms were seen during increasing of blood pressure	Lack of symptoms during hypertension	Hypertension as a silent illness
I feel that my body has not adapted to Losartan and Metoral. At first, I tried to adhere to Doctor's prescription to take half of the pills, and then I took one pill in the morning and one at night, but with no effect. (Patient No. 8)	The prescribed medication and frequent changes of medication had no effect on the patient	No hypertension control despite frequent changes of medication	Hypertension as a resistant illness
She took the medication for some days, the medication was not consistent with her body and she coughed severely, so severely that it seemed her tonsils were coming out. It was very bad. (Patient's daughter, No. 1)	The patient coughed severely while taking medication	Coughing after taking medicine	Medication adverse effect
The patient does not like to take multiple medications. For example, they argued that why do they have to take three medications to reduce blood pressure of 14/9! (Physician No. 12)	The patients were reluctant to take multiple medications for mild high blood pressure	No tendency to take multiple medications for mild hypertension	Need to consuming more drugs