Title | Variations In Self-Management Measures For Chronic Hypertensive Clients: Implication To Health Care Management |
---|---|
Author | DULAY, Mark Anthony C., Rachel Mae T. Daigdigan |
Research Category | |
Course | CON |
Abstract | A survey was conducted among 50 clinically diagnosed hypertensive patients ages 35 and above. The survey was done through guided interviews and leaving of questionnaires with the respondents for a certain amount of time. The areas assessed were the respondents’ use of and compliance with therapeutic regimen components, their efficacy levels in self-management of symptoms, medical care utilization, and health status. Variations were determined through descriptive analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis. Among the variables tested, the most significant differences were related to compliance levels, health status, health seeking behaviors and gender. Cluster analysis has shown that patients with more symptoms felt used and adhered to more therapeutic regimen components. Discriminant analysis also showed that there were significant variations in health seeking behaviors related to gender, with a larger percentage of females keeping appointments and showing up for medical consultations than males. There were also variations in the symptoms felt by the males and females. Significant differences were observed on problems regarding the joints and extremities, heart and cardiovascular health, bladder and urinary tract, lungs and airway. Differences were also observed with symptoms felt upon waking up, patient’s emotional balance and well-being. The findings generated in this study may be applied to allow health care professionals to provide more individualized care for hypertensive patients. The results show some special needs of hypertensive clients due to differences in both compliance and gender-related responses to hypertension. Modifications in certain areas of care, especially client education, based on the findings of the study, may help to promote client compliance and may help to facilitate effective monitoring of clients’ symptoms to prevent the possible occurrence of further complications. |