Self-management approaches among hypertensive residents in nursing homes in Malaysia

The prevalence of hypertension in Malaysia is increasing and an effective management of hypertension is important to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

To determine the knowledge, awareness and perception towards hypertension among residents in nursing homes as well as the roles of caregivers in hypertension management.

A face-to-face survey with 200 hypertensive residents and 30 caregivers from 24 nursing homes in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia was conducted.

Of all the hypertensive residents, 90.5% (n = 181) knew that lowering their blood pressure could improve their health. Most residents strongly believed that taking antihypertensive drugs is important for keeping their high blood pressure under control (n = 162, 81%). Taking medication was perceived as the most important factor in controlling the high blood pressure (58%, n = 116) compared to lifestyle or diet modification. The majority of the caregivers reported that they played a major role in managing hypertension, especially with regards to medication-taking. task (66.7%, n = 20).

The knowledge, attitude and perceptions of hypertension play a relatively major role in the self-management of hypertension. The role of caregivers also needed to be recognised in managing hypertension in nursing homes.