Barriers to self-care in elderly people with hypertension: a qualitative study. Issue 4 (10th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gholamnejad, Hanieh; Darvishpoor Kakhki, Ali; Ahmadi, Fazlollah; Rohani, Camelia
• Is Part Of: Working with older people. Volume 22:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 243
• Page End: 251
• Publication Date: 2018-12-10
• Subjects: Ageing well -- Older people -- Healthcare -- Changing attitudes -- Home care -- Patients' experience; Community health services for older people -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 362.6094105
• DOI: 10.1108/WWOP-08-2018-0016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1366-3666

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: Hypertension is the most common chronic disease throughout the world. Self-care is the key criteria in determining the final course of the disease. However, the majority of elderly people do not observe self-care behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the experiences of elderly people with hypertension in order to understand the barriers of their self-care behaviors. Design/methodology/approach: This is a qualitative study with a conventional content analysis approach conducted in Tehran, Iran in 2017. Data collection was done among 23 participants – 14 elderly people; 6 cardiologists, geriatric physicians and nurses working in the cardiovascular ward; and 3 caregivers – who were selected by purposeful sampling. Using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews, data collection was continued until data saturation. Findings: Three main categories, including attitude limitations, inefficient supportive network and desperation, all showed barriers to self-care by the experiences of elderly people with hypertension. Originality/value: Lack of knowledge of the disease and its treatment process is one of the main barriers to self-care in elderly people with hypertension. Deficient supportive resources along with economic and family problems exacerbate the failure to do self-care behaviors.