Speakers - 2026

Title: Assessment of perceived self management and support requirements in individuals with hypertension

Abstract

Background: Self-management is a key component of chronic care and it is important to identify the self management and support requirements of patients with hypertension. In the literature, factors such as the individual, family, environment and health system, cultural norms and communication are stated as factors affecting patients' perception and support needs in self-management in chronic care.

Purpose: This study assessed the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the PAST for chronic diseases and the factors influencing hypertension patients' self-management perception and support needs.

Methods: This is a methodological and descriptive cross-sectional study. This study included 180 patients diagnosed with hypertension between April 2021 and August 2021who were followed for the previous year at the cardiology outpatient clinic of a private hospital. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 22.0. The reliability of the scale was analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha. The construct validity of the adapted scale was analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.

Results: Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of the PAST was 0.936. In PAST scale item scores, the highest and lowest scores were received by “7. having sufficient exercises” (2.28 ± 1.13) and “9. quitting unhealthy habits” (1.48 ± 0.92), respectively. For the Hypertension Self-care Profile-motivation scale item scores, the highest and lowest scores were received by “16. taking hypertension drugs” (3.57 ± 0.54) and “3. reading food labels to check sodium/salt content of food” (1.84 ± 1.14), respectively. The patients' gender, employment, diet, exercise, duration of hypertension, regular medication use, education, income, smoking and alcohol use characteristics were found to be factors affecting their self-management perceptions and support needs. A statistically significant relationship was found between the Hypertension Self-care Profile-motivation scale scores of patients and PAST scale.

Conclusions/Implications for Practice: The Turkish version of PAST is a tool that can be used by Turkish nurses to determine the self management and support requirements of individuals with chronic diseases. Consultancy and training programs must be implemented according to the individual tendencies and support requirements of patients with hypertension. It is thought that the results may provide information to healthcare professionals in the design and implementation of targeted support programs for patients with hypertension. The study results are limited to our sample group, its application in a single center, and the responses of the patients.