Self-Care Activities in Hypertensive Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Applying Pender’s Health Promotion Model in Community Settings

Abstract

Background: Self-care activities are a critical determinant of hypertension management in older adults. Understanding the factors influencing hypertension self-care is critical to developing effective programs to improve adherence to hypertension management and control in this population. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to examine the relationship between key variables from Pender’s Health Promotion Model and self-care activities among older adults with hypertension. A convenience sample of 151 older adults diagnosed with hypertension was surveyed at several senior centers. Multiple linear regression analysis examined the associations between hypertension self-care activities and demographic, psychological, and behavioral variables. The study followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Results: Seven factors had a significant impact on hypertension self-care activities, including four individual factors: age (β = −0.183, p < 0.05), body mass index (β = −0.189, p < 0.05), employment (β = −0.183, p < 0.05), and depression (β = −0.186, p < 0.05) and three behavior-specific factors: self-efficacy (β = 0.204, p < 0.01), health status (β = 0.190, p < 0.05), and social support (β = 0.189, p < 0.05). Conclusion and Implications for Practice: Recognizing the complex interaction between individual and behavior-specific factors such as perceptions of health status, social support, self-efficacy, and self-care activities, healthcare providers should adopt more individualized and holistic approaches to hypertension treatment. When managing hypertension in older adults, clinicians must take a comprehensive approach that includes age, employment status, body mass index, hypertension knowledge, and depression screening. A targeted and evidence-based approach is required to improve health outcomes and assist older adults with self-care activities. This study lays the groundwork for future research to develop and refine intervention strategies to improve older adults’ quality of life and hypertension management.