A Study to Assess the Knowledge on Management of Hypertension among rural elderly in a selected rural area at Mysuru

 

Lingaraju CM¹, Sunil Kumar CN²

¹Asst. Professor, Dept of Community Health Nursing,

JSS College of Nursing RGUHS, Ramachandra Agrahara, Mysuru.

²Asst. Lecturer, Dept of Community Health Nursing,

JSS College of Nursing RGUHS, Ramachandra Agrahara, Mysuru.

 

ABSTRACT:

A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. Usually hypertension is defined as blood pressure above 140/90, and is considered severe if the pressure is above 180/120. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Over time, if untreated, it can cause health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. Eating a healthier diet with less salt, exercising regularly and taking medication can help lower blood pressure. so The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge on management of hypertension among rural elders under Varuna PHC at Mysuru dist. Objectives: A study to assess the knowledge on management of hypertension among Rural elderly at selected rural area at Mysuru. Methods: The research design selected for this study was descriptive design. Non Probability convenient sampling technique was adopted to select 60 Rural Elderly at selected area under Mysuru dist. Result: Result revealed that majority of sample are have adequate knowledge on hypertension but there is association between the Knowledge of the rural elderly with their selected demographic variables such as age, education and awareness programme. Conclusion: It was concluded that the Rural Elderly having Adequate Knowledge on management of hypertension and there is statistical significance association between the knowledge and demographic variable such as age, education and awareness programme.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

Hypertension is one of the public health problems in all the parts of the world. its asymptomatic painless disease kills the people without any caution. The Measurement of blood pressure is quick and painless. Written as two numbers, the first (systolic) number represents pressure in blood vessels when the heart contracts or beats and second (diastolic) number represents pressure in the vessels when the heart rests between beats.

 

Hypertension is diagnosed if, when measured twice on different days, systolic blood pressure on both readings is ≥140mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure on both readings is ≥90mmHg. It is important to know one’s blood pressure reading by checking it regularly, adopting a healthy lifestyle and staying on prescribed treatment to reduce hypertension and its complications¹.

 

According to WHO the prevalence of hypertension, An estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide have hypertension, most (two-thirds) living in low- and middle-income countries An estimated 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have the condition. Less than half of adults (42%) with hypertension are diagnosed and treated. Approximately 1 in 5 adults (21%) with hypertension have it under control. Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide. One of the global targets for non communicable diseases is to reduce the prevalence of hypertension by 33% between 2010 and 2030.

 

In India It is estimated that at least one in four adults in India has hypertension, but, only about 12% of them have their blood pressure under control. India has set a target of 25% relative reduction in the prevalence of hypertension (raised blood pressure) by 2025.²

 

World hypertension day is observed every year on 7^th may, this year the theme is measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer, focusing on combating low awareness rates worldwide, especially in low to middle income areas, and accurate blood pressure measurement methods³.

 

Hypertension is a major cause of a range of health problems such as strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease, and can also contribute to dementia. Many people who suffer from hypertension are not aware that they have it as there can be no symptoms, often people only find out after suffering a heart attack or stroke.⁴

 

Hypertension is associated with a substantial financial burden. Costs include direct healthcare expenditures associated with BP management, such as medications, laboratory tests, and clinic visits, as well as costs associated with hospitalizations for BP-related complications and indirect costs associated with lost productivity resulting from premature mortality and disability owing to hypertension-related cardiovascular and kidney diseases⁵.

 

The study published in Indian express revealed that, A multi-centric national survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru has found that 28.5 percent of adults in India were hypertensive. Among them, 27.9 percent were aware of their hypertensive status, 14.5 percent were under treatment and 12.6 percent had their blood pressure under control. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in urban areas (34percent) in comparison to rural areas (25.7percent). However, poor awareness and treatment among rural adults vis-a-vis their urban counterparts were also noted in the survey.⁶

 

Journal of Human Hypertension Revealed That, There is poor association of hypertension prevalence with healthcare availability although there is positive association with healthcare access and quality. The health system in India should focus on better hypertension screening and control to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.⁷

 

 

Hypertension trends rising in India, the government recently initiated health policy and plans to treat the issue. Under Ayushman bharath. people can Utilize the benefit.⁸ hence it’s important to create assess the knowledge on hypertension among public at grassroots level. 

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A study to assess the knowledge on management of hypertension among rural elderly at selected rural area at Mysuru.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.     To assess the knowledge regarding   management of hypertension among rural elderly in a selected rural area at Mysuru

2.     To determine the association Knowledge regarding management of hypertension among Rural elderly in a selected rural area at Mysuru   with their selected personal variables.

 

HYPOTHESES:

H 1- There will be significant association between the knowledge   regarding management of hypertension among Rural elderly in a selected rural area at Mysuru   with their selected personal variables.

 

CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORK:

The conceptual framework of the study is based on the health Belief model.

 

ASSUMPTIONS:

1.     Rural Elderly   may have moderate knowledge on management of hypertension.

 

DELIMITATION:

Study is delimited to those who are residing in rural community Under Varuna PHC at Mysuru dist.

 

METHODOLOGY:

Research Approach:

Quantitative approach was adopted for the present study.

 

Research Design:

Descriptive design was adopted for present study

 

Keys:

Variables of the Study:

Research variable:

knowledge management of hypertension.

 

Other variables:

Selected personal variables viz., age, gender religion educational qualification, and previous knowledge on management of hypertension and   attended any   educational programme regarding management of hypertension.

 

SOURCES OF THE DATA:

Setting of the Study:

The present study was conducted in Varuna PHC at Mysuru.

 

Population:

Population comprised of rural elderly at   Mysuru dist

 

Sample and Sampling:

Rural elders   were selected as samples for the present study.

 

Sampling Technique:

Non- probability convenient sampling technique was used in the present study to select 60 rural elderly at rural area of Mysuru dist.

 

SAMPLING CRITERIA:

Inclusion criteria:

Rural elders who are:

·       Available during the period of data collection.

·       Willing to participate in the study.

 

Exclusion criteria:

·       Hypertensive patients who were not available at the time of data collection.

 

DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES AND INSTRUMENTS:

Development of tool:

The tool was developed through following steps:

1.     Review of research and non research literature related to management of hypertension.

2.     Opinion of experts from the nursing department.

 

DESCRIPTION OF TOOL:

The tool consists of two sections.

Section A:

Consists of Proforma for selected personal variables of respondents seeking information such as age, gender, educational status, previous exposure to educational program me on   management of hypertension.

Section B:

Includes structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge regarding   management of hypertension.

 

Grades will be assigned as mentioned below:

·       < 50 Inadequate knowledge

·       50-75 moderate knowledge

·       > 75 adequate knowledge

 

CONTENT VALIDITY:

The tool was given to 6 experts in nursing   field and 1 Statistician to establish content validity. There was 100% agreement by all experts. However there were few suggestions to modify some questions and they were incorporated in the final draft.

 

RELIABILITY:

The reliability was established through split half method by administering it to 30 rural elderly at Mysuru dist. Co efficient correlation was 0.71. Hence the tool was found to be reliable.

 

PROCEDURE FOR THE DATA COLLECTION:

Permission for conducting the study was obtained from consent authority the data was collected. An informed consent was obtained from each subject to indicate their willingness to participate in the study. The data collection process was terminated after thanking each respondent for their participation and their co operation.

 

RESULTS:

SECTION 1 Description of selected personal variables of study subjects.

 

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of rural elderly on management of hypertension according to their selected personal variables.                                                     n = 60

 

SECTION -2 Frequency and percentage distribution of rural elderly according to their level of knowledge.

Table-02                                                                                          n=60

 

Table 3: Mean, median, standard deviation, scores             n=60

 

 

SECTION- 3

Association between the level of knowledge regarding management of hypertension among Rural Elderly with   their selected personal variables:

To find out the association between the levels of management of hypertension with their personal variables, chi square was computed and following   hypothesis is stated.

 

H 01: There is a significant association between the knowledge regarding management of hypertension among rural elderly with theirselected personal variables:

Calculated chi square value showed that there was a significant association found between the knowledge on management of hypertension with their selected personal variables such as age, education status. Hence the hypothesis is accepted and it is inferred that there is a significant association between knowledge on management of hypertension with   their selected personal variable.

 

IMPLICATIONS:

The findings of present   study have implications for nursing practice, nursing education, nursing administration and nursing research.

 

Nursing practice:

It is important to prevent hypertension in Geographical area and those who diagnosed as   hypertension must have   knowledge positive attitude to overcome with this problem. Hence it is importance for prevention of   hypertension import their knowledge regarding management of hypertension.

 

Nursing education:

Education is the key component to update and change the knowledge of the people. The nurse educator can conduct the educational programme in community setting about management of  hypertension to  import    their   knowledge to manage the hypertension..

 

Nursing administration:

Nursing administrator is the key person to plan, organize and conduct educational programme. Nurse administrators can encourage the rural elderly to participate in educational intervention on   management of hypertension.

 

Nursing research:

The topic has great relevance to the present day   in public health. The study stresses on the need for extensive research in the subject and for more implication to improve the management of hypertension.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.     Similar study can be carried out on a large scale to generalize the findings.

2.     A Similar study can be conducted in other population..

3.     A comparative study can be conducted between Urban Elderly.

 

CONCLUSION:

It was concluded that hypertension patients was having adequate knowledge regarding management of hypertension. The Study finding also emphasizes there is a significance association between the level of knowledge with their   personnel variable.

 

ACKNOWLWDGEMENT:

It’s my pleasure and privilege to express my deep sence of gratitude to Sri R Mahsh, Director Medical Education Division, JSS Mahavidyapheta, Mysuru.  Prof. Aswathy Devi   Principal, JSS College of Nursing, for the support to conduct this study and Librarian Mr.  Kesavamurthy   who helps a lot for finding the reviews and special thanks to Ashwini and Alish Raj for his constant support.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Park. Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine. 19^th edition. Jabalpur: Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers. 2007

2.      https://www.who.int

3.      https://whleague.org

4.      https://www.awarenessdays.com

5.      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

6.      https://indianexpress.com

7.      https://www.nature.com

8.      Krishna Kumari Gulani. Community health nursing. 2nd edition. Delhi: JP Brother’s publication; 2008

 

 

 

Received on 24.04.2023         Modified on 08.05.2023

Accepted on 20.05.2023       ©A&V Publications All right reserved