Determination of self efficacy and self management levels of hypertensive patients

Hypertension is a serious health problem that is frequently seen worldwide and can lead to complications and organ damage. Hypertension management includes not only drug treatment but also lifestyle changes. This study aimed to determine the self efficacy and self management levels of hypertensive patients, the relationship between them, and the affecting factors. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2022 and June 2023. The sample consisted of 120 patients according to G-power analysis. Data were collected using a "Patient Information Form", the "Hypertension Self Efficacy Scale", and the "Chronic Disease Self Management Scale", analyzed in the SPSS V23 package program, and evaluated using Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test, and Dunn's test. The mean age of the patients was 66,76±11,42 years. Of the participants, 51,7% were male; 77,5% were married; 91,7% were unemployed; 48,3% had been diagnosed with hypertension 10-15 years ago; 90,8% used their drugs regularly; 55% adapted to the disease-related life changes. The mean score of the patients was 53,06 ± 6,26 on the "Hypertension Self Efficacy Scale" and 2,86 ± 0,44 on the "Chronic Disease Self Management Scale". When the subscales of the "Chronic Disease Self Management Scale" and sociodemographic variables were compared, significant differences were found between sex and the "Healthcare Effectiveness" subscale median score (p=0,043), employment status and the total scale (p=0,009), "Healthcare Effectiveness" subscale (p=0,016), and "Treatment Compliance" subscale (p=0,014) median scores. There was a significant positive weak correlation between age and the "Treatment Compliance" subscale score (r=0,234; p=0,010). There were significant differences between patients who used their drugs regularly and who were able to adapt to disease-related life changes and the "Hypertension Self Efficacy Scale" and "Chronic Disease Self Management Scale" scores (p<0,001). There was a statistically significant strong positive correlation between the scores on the "Chronic Disease Self Management Scale" and the "Hypertension Self Efficacy Scale" (r=0,633; p<0,001). A significant positive weak correlation was determined between the scores on the "Coping with Stigma" (r=0,324; p<0,001) and "Treatment Compliance" (r=0,371; p<0,001) subscales of the "Chronic Disease Self Management Scale" and the "Hypertension Self Efficacy Scale" score. There was also a significant positive strong correlation between the scores on the "Healthcare Effectiveness" subscale and the "Hypertension Self Efficacy Scale" (r=0,637; p<0,001). In conclusion, patients who could make lifestyle changes had higher hypertension self efficacy and self management levels than patients who could not. It is thought that supporting patients and increasing their motivation and awareness are effective in compliance with hypertension treatment. Keywords: Care, Nursing, Hypertension, Self efficacy, Self management.