ABSTRACT
Background: Controlling hypertension by self-care behaviors cause to reduce mortality and disability from heart disease. Self-efficacy is a strong determinant for changing or creating self-care behaviors. The aim of this study was to determine self- efficacy of self-care behaviors of elderly patients with hypertension in the Qom city in 2013.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive - analytical study was performed on 130 cases of hypertensive patients in Qom city that were selected in Snowball sampling. The data collection was a Blood pressure device questionnaire including demographic information, Self-efficacy and Performance. Data were analyzed by SPSS-18.
Results: average self-efficacy score was 40%. Self-efficacy was significantly higher in men than women [P=0/03] and between self-efficacy and marital status, job and education level had no significant relation. Self-efficacy Elderly with Self-care performance [P=0/003], average systolic pressure [P=0/0001] and diastolic [P= 0/004] had a significant relationship.
Conclusion: Elderly patients with hypertension were poor level of perceived self-efficacy related to self-care behaviors and considering that there is a significant relationship between self-efficacy and behavior, therefore, to change or adoption behavior attention to self-efficacy is remarkable.