SELF-EFFICACY ANALYSIS OF HEALTH PROMOTING BEHAVIORS OF HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN RAFSANJAN

Objective: To analyze self-efficacy of the patients suffering from hypertension in Rafsanjan (South of Iran). Methodology: The current correlational study was conducted in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran, using a simple random sampling. Hypertensive patients of health centers in Rafsanjan were selected. The data collection tool was a questionnaire consisting of two parts: a demographic and a self-efficacy part. Data analysis was done in using Chi-square tests, independent t-tests, Pearson correlations and one-way ANOVAs utilizing version 18 of the SPSS. Results: Total of 385 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 61.39 +/- 10.98 years, 96 of whom being males (24.9%). More than 76% of the patients had a BMI of more than 25. Mean score and standard deviation for self-efficacy of the patients were 64.3 +/- 15.1. The highest self-efficacy scores were associated with regular drug use, and the lowest scores were related to regular physical activities and stress control and management. There was a significant correlation between the mean score for self-efficacy and the variables of age, duration of the disease, systolic blood pressure, diastole and social support (p<0.05). Yet, no significant correlation was obtained with other independent and background variables (p> 0.05). Conclusion: The perceived self efficacy of participants was higher than average, the high score was related to regular medicine in take and regular referral to physician. The lowest score was related to regular physical activity behavior and stress control and management. Self Efficacy had a significant relationship with variables such as age duration of disease, systolic and diastolic pressure.