The Problems and Needs of Self-Management Among Indonesian Older Adults With Hypertension: A Qualitative Study.

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension is the most common older adults' health problem in Indonesia. Older adults experience various changes in their life that often contribute to their ability to manage health problems, especially in chronic diseases.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to understand the problems and needs of self-management of older adults with hypertension.

METHODS

This was a qualitative exploratory descriptive design. Data collection was conducted among 62 participants. Participants were 15 older adults with hypertension and 11 older adults' families, 12 primary care nurses, seven medical doctors, 11 health volunteers, three heads of primary care, and three district health officials selected by purposeful sampling. Data were collected using semistructured, face-to-face interviews (older adults and their families) and focus group discussion (healthcare workers). Data analysis was carried out qualitatively descriptively using an inductive thinking process; Colaizzi's measures were used for analysis.

RESULTS

This study identified eight main themes: (1) complaints related to aging and hypertension, (2) knowledge and beliefs about hypertension, (3) behavior changes after hypertension, (4) disease management support; access to health services for older adults, (5) the need to manage hypertension for older adults, (6) disease management support, (7) hypertension self-management behavior, and (8) compliance with medication.

CONCLUSION

This study provided evidence regarding older adults' problems and needs in managing hypertension. These findings should be considered while providing nursing care at the community level to initiate the self-management of hypertension in older adults.