@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2383-2150    Journal of Education and Community Health 2020;7(2):89-96

Background
Hypertension is one of the most common health problems with significant consequences.
Previous Studies
… [1-3]. High blood pressure requires special self-care behaviors, including a low-salt diet, regular physical activity, weight management, regular blood pressure measurements, and no smoking and alcohol use until death. Numerous studies have suggested that observing self-care behaviors in hypertension can also help regulate blood pressure [4]. Self-care activities include committing the patient to accept responsibility and regulating activities related to their health, such as how to consume fluids, follow a nutrition and medication regimen, and treatment, when the symptoms are exacerbated that, are the most important strategies for controlling the disease and the key to successful treatment. . … [5-10].
Aim(s)
The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between health literacy and self-care behaviors of hypertensive patients referred to health centers.
Research type
This research was a descriptive-analytical study.
Research society, place and time
In this study, 240 patients with hypertension referred to the Hamadan Comprehensive Health Centers in 2019 entered the study.
Sampling method and number
In this study, patients were selected by multistage random sampling and enrolled in the study.
Used devices&materials
Data collection tools included the Demographic Information Questionnaire, Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) scale, and Self-Care Questionnaire. Demographic information included age, gender, level of education, occupation, marital status, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), duration of illness, history of blood pressure in the family, history of other diseases, and economic status. The second scale was the HELIA. Montazeri et al. designed and studied by that its psychometrics [11]. The third scale was a self-care questionnaire that included nine questions about self-care behaviors associated with high blood pressure. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software. Data were described using graphs, tables, and numerical indicators, as well as inferential statistics, including Pearson correlation test and linear regression, were used to determine the relationship between variables.
Findings by Text
The mean age of the participants was 61.44 ±10.33 years. Also, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the participants in the last care was 131.73 ±19.83 and 79.85 ±11.75 mmHg, respectively. The mean duration of the disease was 7.66 ± 6.67 years and the BMI of the patients was 26.06 ±3.23 kg/m2 (Table 1).Overall, 18.8% of the participants had excellent health literacy, 27.9% had inadequate health literacy, 24.2% had adequate health literacy, and 29.2% had poor health literacy. Also, 42.1% of the participants had moderate self-care, 45.0% had good self-care, and 12.9% had poor self-care. The average score of access, evaluation, and reading ability of health literacy was at the intermediate level. In contrast, the mean score of the comprehension and decision making and the use of health information in patients was relatively favorable (Table 2). There was a positive and significant correlation between all dimensions of health literacy and self-care behaviors in patients (P <0.01; Table 3).The level of education (β = 0.47), economic status (β = 0.14), and age (β = 0.13) were predictors of the patients' health literacy (p <0.05). In other words, as the level of education increases and the economic situation improves, patients' health literacy increases, and on the contrary, patients' health literacy decreases by aging (Table 4).BMI (β = 0.13) and health literacy (β = 0.21) predicted patients' self-care behaviors (p <0.05). In other words, by an increase in BMI and level of health literacy, patients' self-care behaviors improved (Table 5).
Main comparison to the similar studies
… [11, 12]. The results of Khosravi & Ahmadzadeh's research showed that the level of health literacy of patients was at the borderline and insufficient level. Insufficient health literacy prevents health messages from being properly conveyed to patients [13]. Afshari et al. also showed that the majority of people had poor health literacy, which was consistent with the results of the present study [14]. In a study examining the national health literacy of Iranian adults, Tavousi et al. showed that access and evaluation in health literacy had a lower score than other domains and the highest level of optimal health literacy was reported in the understanding dimension [15]. … [16-28].
Suggestions
To increase the level of health literacy of individuals, the training of health system employees should be considered and health policymakers should consider health literacy as one of the most important tools for improving self-care, as well as developing, designing, and implementing community-based programs and models.
Limitations
One of the limitations of the study was the self-reporting method for the data collection on health literacy and self-care, which may cause bias in evaluating results.
Conclusions
Health literacy is one of the important factors in improving the self-care behaviors of patients with hypertension.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Technology of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences for financial support.
Conflict of interest
None declared.
Ethical Permissions
The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (IR.UMSHA.REC.1397.796).
Funding Sources
This research was supported by the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Technology of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences.

TABLES and CHARTS

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