The Quality of life of hypertension patient

-99- ABSTRACT This study has been performed descriptively to investigate the effects of hypertension to patients' quality of life (QOL). Study sample is composed of 333 patients with hypertension and those are admitted to Çorum State Hospital, Outpatient Clinic of Medical Diseases between November 2004 - January 2005. As a data collecting tool, 'Survey Form' including descriptive data about the patients and their disease and 'SF-36 Quality of Life Scale ' were used. 'Survey Form' was formed by the researcher. Given data was analysed by using the t test (Independent-Samples T test) and one way variance analysis (One-Way ANOVA). As a result of analysis; patients who are men, married and occupied have high mean QOL point in all QOL fields. Moreover, patients who have small family, patients who stated balance between income and expense, patients who take antihypertensive drugs regularly, patients who are on a diet strictly and patients who smoke and take alcohol have high mean QOL point in all QOL fields. It is also pointed out that, patients who have more children than three, patients who stated existence of stress at present occupation, patients who have comorbidities in addition to hypertension, patients who are on a treatment with antihypertensive drugs and patient who use any medication other than antihypertensive drugs have low mean QOL point in all QOL fields. Illiterate patients have lower mean QOL point in functional field of QOL and at whole QOL scale than the other groups. Furthermore, patients who stated tiredness at present occupation have lower mean QOL point in functional and health fields of QOL and at whole QOL scale than the other groups. According to the results derived from the study; it was suggested by the researcher to arrange education and consulting programmes with hypertension patients, about the risk factors of hypertension, which can be regulated, such as diet, smoking, sedentery life and stress. Moreover, it was suggested that nurses who take part in health professions should take active role to educate hypertension patients about increasing their quality of life. Key words: Hypertension, Quality of Life (QOL), Nursing, Variety of Life Manner