Factors Influencing Lifestyle Modification among Persons with Hypertension in Punakha, Bhutan

Abstract

Integration of lifestyle modification with modern medicine is recommended management of hypertension. This study aimed to describe lifestyle modification and explore factors predicting lifestyle modification among persons with hypertension in Punakha, Bhutan. Individual and family self-management theory guided this study. Simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 108 persons with hypertension visiting non-communicable disease (NCD) unit of Punakha District Hospital, Bhutan. Data on demographic characteristics and health information were collected using Demographic Questionnaire. Standard instruments such as Hypertension Self-care Profile Behavior Scale, Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale, Hypertension Self-Efficacy Scale and Multi-diminensional Scale of Perceived Social Support each bearing reliability coefficient of .83, .82, .81 and .85 respectively were used to measure the research variables. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and standard multiple regression. The result showed that lifestyle modification is high among the participants (M = 53.9, SD = 7.7). Standard multiple regression revealed hypertension knowledge (β = .19, p = .04) and perceived self-efficacy (β = .36, p < .001) as the significant predictor of lifestyle modification. Perceived social support did not predict lifestyle modification. All predictors explained 21.05% of variance in lifestyle modification (R2 = 21.05%, F(4, 103) = 10.51, p < .001) among the participants. The findings indicate that lifestyle modification can be enhanced by designing an intervention directed toward strengthening hypertension knowledge and perceived self-efficacy. While providing interventional program, healthcare professional should involve both individual and family to motivate them in promotion of lifestyle modification.