Correlates of Self-Care Behaviors among Low-Income Elderly Women with Hypertension in South Korea

ObjectiveTo identify correlates of self-care behaviors among elderly, low-income Korean women with hypertension. Research DesignA secondary analysis of data from a community-based intervention trial for hypertension control. SettingThree community health posts in the Gangwon province, South Korea. ParticipantsTwo hundred thirty-four (234) low-income elderly women (age 60-93) who had previously participated in a community-based intervention trial for hypertension control. MethodsThe researchers collected data that included patient background characteristics, hypertension self-care behavior, self-efficacy of hypertension control, general knowledge of hypertension, and social support. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including hierarchical regression analysis. ResultsThe model explained 41.1% of the total variance in hypertension self-care behavior scores. Among elderly, low-income Korean women, the significant factors of their hypertension self-care behavior included: (a) self-efficacy of hypertension control (=.62), (b) social support (=.16), and (c) age (=-.14). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that elderly Korean women that had higher self-efficacy of hypertension control, higher social support, and were younger were more likely to have higher hypertension self-care behavior scores. ConclusionsThe results highlight the need for interventions that focus on improving an individual's self-efficacy and social support to enhance hypertension self-care. The findings of this study can help nurses better understand hypertension self-care behavior in elderly, low-income Korean women.