Table 2.

Summary interview guide

Knowledge and diagnosis

• Did you experience any symptoms before you were diagnosed with hypertension?

• If yes, can you describe those symptoms of hypertension?

• Do you have other health problems?

• Can you tell me about your other health problems (the one that worries you the most)? (Ask about hypertension and diabetes)

• How did you decide to seek care? Did the family help in the process? Or any organization?

• Can we talk about your experience of this process of seeking care?

• To what extent do you think hypertension is an important disease?

• How much did you know about hypertension before your diagnosis? What were your information sources at the time and now?

Prevention and treatment

• Have you received any advice on preventive and control measures on hypertension from community health workers (CHWs)?

• Was the information received appropriate to your needs?

• Have you changed your behavior (diet and exercise) since knowing about the condition?

• What was the treatment that was first prescribed? Was it subsequently changed?

• Does a family member or organization help you with taking the medication?

• Did you have to pay anything out of pocket for the treatment or for traveling?

• Do you take other alternative medication?

• How were the health-care facilities you visited?

• What difficulties did you face during this process while seeking treatment?

• What in the process of treatment could have been handled better?

Access of services and receiving care

• Are there shortages of drugs and consumables? Or access problems to facilities? Discuss problems.

• Are there problems accessing home health education and other services from CHWs?

• Are there problems accessing subsidies or financial support for additional health services?

Health-care experiences and recommendations

• How would you assess your communication with health providers you have encountered?

• Do you have a trusting relationship with your GP?

• To what extent have you been kept informed about your treatment?

• How can home health education and other services provided by CHWs be improved?

• Have you heard of any initiative to improve prevention of hypertension?

• From your experience, what could be done to make life easier for people suffering from hypertension?

• Are there any changes that need to be made outside the health-care system?

Abbreviation: GP, general practitioner.