Hypertension Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hypertension, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, diet, treatment, causes.

Self-care agency and factors related to this agency among patients with hypertension.

Akyol AD, Cetinkaya Y, Bakan G, Yarali S, Akkuş S

E.ü Hemşirelik Yüksek Okulu, High School of Nursing Medical Nursing, Bornova-zmir, Turkey. akyol@med.ege.edu.tr

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess the self-care agency and factors regarding this agency among patients with hypertensions. DESIGN: This study, descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional in nature, was conducted to evaluate the self-care agency of 120 hypertensive patients at the Cardiology and Internal Diseases Polyclinic of University of Ege, Faculty of Medicine; izmir Atatürk State Hospital; University of Selçuk, Faculty of Medicine; and Karaman State Hospital between July and August 2003. METHODS: The data were collected by using the self-care agency scale and a questionnaire designed to determine the socio demographic features, and evaluated by means of percentage calculation and chi-square tests. RESULTS: The mean self-care agency rate of the patients in general was moderate. It was determined that educational situation and social insurance affected self-care. CONCLUSION: Self-care agency and health are related to economic, social and educational factors. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Data obtained could be used for policy formulation, health planning, outcome evaluation of instruments, better health education strategies and, ultimately, to demonstrate the worth of nursing in the marketplace.

Published 3 April 2007 in J Clin Nurs, 16(4): 679-87.
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