Mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between family social support and hypertension self-care behaviours: A cross-sectional study of Saudi men with hypertension

Understanding health literacy in men: a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Males have a shorter life expectancy than females. Men are less likely to seek the advice of a health professional or utilise preventive health services and programs. This study seeks to explore health literacy and the characteristics affecting this among Australian men.

METHODS

Four hundred and thirty-one adult males engaged with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, completed an online cross-sectional survey, undertaken from September - November 2022. The survey tool captured demographic data, health status and lifestyle risk characteristics. Health literacy was measured using the 44-item Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, were used to describe the sample. Interferential statistics, including the Mann-Whitney U Test and the Kruskal-Wallis Test, were used to explore differences between demographics and HLQ scales.

RESULTS

For the first 5 scales (4-point Likert scale), the lowest score was seen for 'Appraisal of health information' (Mean 2.81; SD 0.52) and the highest score was seen for 'Feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers ' (Mean 3.08; SD 0.64). For the other 4 scales (5-point Likert scale), the lowest score was seen for 'Navigating the healthcare system' (Mean 3.74; SD 0.69). The highest score was seen for 'Understand health information well enough to know what to do' (Mean 4.10; SD 0.53). Age, income level and living in an urban/rural location were significantly related to health literacy scales.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides new insight into men's health literacy and the factors impacting it. This knowledge can inform future strategies to promote men's engagement with health services and preventive care.

The Effectiveness of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program in Improving Patients' Self-Efficacy and Health-Related Behaviors: A Quasi-Experimental Study

The Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a valuable educational resource for supporting patients' self-management behaviors. However, no evidence supporting its effectiveness in the Saudi Arabian population exists. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 6-month CDSMP in individuals with chronic conditions in Saudi Arabia within a primary care context. A quasi-experimental design was conducted in 110 adults living with ≥1 chronic disease in Saudi Arabia. The patients in the experimental group (n = 45) participated in a six-session CDSMP, whereas those in the control group (n = 65) continued their usual care. Baseline and 6-month assessments were conducted using relevant questionnaires to assess outcome measures. Analysis of covariance revealed that the participants who underwent the CDSMP had significantly higher self-efficacy levels in managing their conditions (F = 9.80, p < 0.01) and a greater tendency to adopt healthy behaviors to successfully manage their chronic illnesses (F = 11.17, p < 0.01). The participants who underwent the CDSMP also showed significant improvements in all health-related outcomes compared with those in the control group (p < 0.01). These findings indicated that the program had a positive effectiveness in self-efficacy, self-management behaviors, and health-related outcomes among adults with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia. The CDSMP may be integrated into primary care settings to help patients successfully manage their chronic conditions.

Personal Agency and Social Supports to Manage Health Among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Men With Diabetes

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic communities, especially among men who develop this chronic condition at earlier ages. Personal agency and social support are vital aspects to diabetes management. However, less is known about the relationship between these variables among men living with diabetes. The purposes of this study were to identify (1) levels of personal agency to manage health, (2) sources of social supports to manage health based on personal agency levels, and (3) factors associated with lower personal agency to manage health. Cross-sectional data from non-Hispanic Black (n = 381) and Hispanic (n = 292) men aged 40 years or older with T2D were collected using an internet-delivered questionnaire. Three binary logistic regression models were fitted to assess sociodemographics, health indicators, and support sources associated with weaker personal agency to manage health. About 68% of participants reported having the strongest personal agency relative to 32.1% reporting weaker personal agency. Men who relied more on their spouse/partner (odds ratio [OR] = 1.22, p = .025), coworkers (OR = 1.59, p = .008), or faith-based organizations (OR = 1.29, p = .029) for ongoing help/support to improve their health and manage health problems were more likely to have weaker personal agency. Conversely, men who relied more on their health care providers for ongoing help/support to improve their health and manage health problems were less likely to have weaker personal agency to manage health (OR = 0.74, p < .001). Findings suggest personal agency may influence men's support needs to manage T2D, which may also be influenced by cultural, socioeconomics, and the composition of social networks.

Factors influencing self-care among patients with primary hypertension: path analysis of mediating roles of self-efficacy and depressive symptoms

AIMS

Blood pressure control requires medication adherence and lifestyle modifications. Social cognitive theory suggests social support, psychological adaptation, and self-efficacy can reinforce lifestyle modifications. This study investigated if self-efficacy was a mediator between self-rated health status (SRHS), social support, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and self-care among patients with hypertension.

METHOD AND RESULTS

This cross-sectional study recruited patients with primary hypertension by convenience sampling (N = 318) from an outpatient cardiology clinic. Data included participant characteristics and self-report scales for social support, SRHS, anxiety, depressive symptoms, Self-efficacy and self-care diet quality and weight management. We used path analysis to test the hypothesized model. The mean age of participants was 63.91 ± 11.80 years. Mean scale scores for social support and depressive symptoms were 54.23 ± 13.26 and 6.14 ± 3.14, respectively; SRHS was 66.91 ± 13.80, self-efficacy was 34.31 ± 11.62, self-care for diet quality and weight management were 36.50 ± 13.19 and 27.38 ± 8.64, respectively. Bootstrapping demonstrated self-efficacy was the mediator between social support and self-care for diet quality and weight management; depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between social support and self-efficacy. In addition, the variable of depressive symptoms was also a mediator between SRHS and self-efficacy. The final model showed SRHS, social support, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy explained 28% of self-care.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest developing theory-based interventions for patients with hypertension that provide education and/or psychological support for increasing patients' self-efficacy and reducing depressive symptoms simultaneously to facilitate their long-term self-care behaviours.

The role of sex and gender in hypertension

Hypertension (HTN) is a critical primary modifiable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases, with recognized sex-based differences. While sex refers to one's biological genetic makeup and attributes, gender encompasses the individual's psycho-socio-cultural characteristics, including their environment and living conditions. The impact of each gendered variable may differ amongst men and women with respect to HTN. Applying a sex and gender-based lenses to inform our understanding of HTN has the potential to unveil important contributors of HTN-related cardiovascular outcomes. For instance, increased life stressors, work related anxiety and depression, typically have more pronounced effect on women than men with HTN. The impact of social surrounding including marital status and social support on HTN also differs amongst men and women. While married men are less likely to have higher blood pressure, single women, and those who never married are less likely to have HTN. Additionally, the beneficial role of social support is more pronounced in more historically marginalized cultural groups compared to majority. Finally, socioeconomic status, including education level and income have a linear and inverse relationship in blood pressure control in more resource-rich countries. The aim of this review is to summarize how sex and gender interact in shaping the clinical course of HTN demonstrating the importance of both sex and gender in HTN risk and its treatment. Hence, when investigating the role of gendered factors in HTN it is imperative to consider cultural, and social settings. In this narrative we found that employment and education play a significant role in manifestation and control of HTN particularly in women.

Social support, oral health knowledge, attitudes, practice, self-efficacy and oral health-related quality of life in Chinese college students

Oral health is crucial for health-related quality of life. However, the research on the factors affecting oral health status is not comprehensive enough. This investigation aimed to evaluate the multifaceted determinants of college students' oral health status and explore the impact of social support, oral health literacy, attitudes, behaviors, and self-efficacy on OHRQoL. By surveying 822 students from a university. Baseline data included sociodemographics (gender, age), social support (MSPSS scale), oral health self-efficacy (SESS scale), oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP questionnaire), and OHRQoL (OHIP-14 scale). Based on social cognitive theory, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) were used to examine the relationship between the study variables. PLS-SEM results showed that knowledge, attitude, and practice predicted OHRQoL through self-efficacy. FsQCA results showed that the combination of different variables was sufficient to explain OHRQoL. The conclusion was that self-efficacy plays an important role and the combination of high-level knowledge, positive attitudes, and strong self-efficacy was important in improving OHRQoL. The results of this study provided a reference for the oral health strategy planning of college students in China.

Hypertension self-care practice and its associated factors in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia: A multi-center cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a serious threat to public health globally owing to its high prevalence and related complications. It is the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, eye problems, and death. Self-care practices have been emphasized as a major element in reducing and preventing complications from hypertension. Thus, this study aimed to assess hypertension self-care practices and associated factors in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia.

METHODS

A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at three public hospitals from April 1 to May 31, 2021. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.6 and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for analysis. The study participants were characterized using descriptive statistics. The associations between self-care practice and independent variables were modeled using binary logistic regression analysis. Adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were used to estimate the association between self-care practice and independent variables. The statistical significance of the association was declared at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

This study involved 405 hypertensive patients, with a response rate of 96.7%. The overall level of good self-care practice was 33.1% (95% CI: 28.6, 37.5). The multivariable logistic regression model showed that age under 65 years (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI: 1.60-8.89), good knowledge of hypertension self-care practice (AOR = 6.36, 95% CI: 2.07-19.56), absence of a depression (AOR = 6.08, 95% CI: 1.24-29.73) and good self-efficacy (AOR = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.12-9.87) were independent predictors of good self-care practice.

CONCLUSION

The level of good hypertension self-care practice in the study area was low. Hence, it is crucial to expand non-communicable disease control programs and implement public health interventions on self-care for hypertension. Moreover, to enhance hypertension self-care practices, patient-centered interventions are essential.

Psychosocial Determinants of Recommended Lifestyle Behaviors among Hypertensive Patients: An Integrative Literature Review

Healthy lifestyle levels are low among adults with hypertension (HTN). Unfortunately, psychosocial factors contributing to patients' inability to meet healthy lifestyle recommendations are not well-understood. This integrative review examined the relationships of three psychosocial factors (self-efficacy, outcome expectancy, and social support) with dietary adherence (DA) and physical activity (PA) among adults with HTN. In total, 24 peer-reviewed studies were assessed. Results showed self-efficacy had small-to-large relationships with PA (r = 0.02-0.46) and DA (r = 0.06-0.79), with the strength of the associations varying by the assessed domain and country of origin. However, few studies reported a small relationship between the remaining factors (outcome expectancy and social support) and PA and DA. Thus, more efforts are needed to delineate the contributions of social support and outcome expectancies on DA or PA. When designing an intervention that focuses on improving PA or DA among adults with HTN, these psychosocial factors should be targeted.

Gaps in Hypertension Management in a Middle-Income Community of Quito-Ecuador: A Population-Based Study

Optimal hypertension care and control at population level significantly reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The study objective was to measure the gaps in the diagnosis, care, and control of hypertension in residents of an urban community in Quito, Ecuador. A cross-sectional population-based study with a sample of 2160 persons was performed using a survey and direct blood pressure measurement. Logistical regression models were used for analyzing factors associated with the gaps, expressed as percentages. The prevalence of hypertension was 17.6% [CI 95% 17.3-17.9%]. The diagnosis gap was 6.1% [CI 95% 5.9-6.2%] among the entire population and 34.5% [CI 95% 33.7-35.3%] among persons with hypertension. No access gaps were detected; whereas the follow-up gap was 22.7% [CI 95% 21.8-23.6%] and control gap reached 43.5% [CI 95% 42.6-44.2%]. Results indicated that being male, older than 64 years, an employee, without health insurance, and not perceiving a need for healthcare, increased the risk of experiencing these gaps. Data showed appropriate access to health services and high coverage in the diagnosis was due to the application of a community and family healthcare model. Notwithstanding, we found significant gaps in the follow-up and control of hypertensive patients, especially among older males, which should warrant the attention of the Ministry of Health.

Associations Between Smartphone Use for Physical Activity by South Korean College Students and Behavioral Change Constructs of the Transtheoretical Model

We examined associations between smartphone uses to assist physical activity (PA) and change constructs of the transtheoretical model (TTM) among Korean college students. Our participants were 242 college students who completed a cross-sectional survey of their smartphone use, PA, and TTM constructs. We applied Poisson regression models to test the associations between stages of change and smartphone PA use frequencies in four categories over the previous week: 1= watching PA instruction videos; 2 = tracking PA; 3 = searching and booking sites for PA; and 4 = finding and making appointments with PA partners. The associations between these smartphone uses and participants' self-efficacy, decisional balance, processes of change, and PA were tested via ordinary least squares regression models. Results were that participants in the precontemplation and maintenance stages were the least and most frequent users of the smartphones in all four categories, respectively. Category one usage was positively associated with participants' scores on pros (β = .22, p = .004), cognitive processes of change (β = .30, p < .001), and behavioral processes of change (β = .28, p < .001). Category two usage was positively associated with PA (β = .06, p = .048). While category three usage was not significantly associated with any TTM constructs except for stages of change, category four usage was positively associated with self-efficacy (β = .28, p < .001), pros (β = .30, p < .001), cognitive processes of change (β = .31, p < .001), behavioral processes of change (β = .06, p <. 001), and PA (β = .45, p < .001). These findings suggest that (a) active college students are likely to take advantage of smartphone to assist their PA, and (b) smartphones can help motivate college students toward regular PA.

[Social, clinical and psychosocial determinants associated with uncontrolled arterial hypertension in older adults. SABE Survey Colombia 2016]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics that are associated with uncontrolled arterial hypertension (HANC) in older adults in Colombia.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of data from the National Survey of Health, Welfare and Aging (SABE Colombia 2016), in which men and women aged 60 years or older in the country who were not institutionalized were interviewed. The dependent variable was uncontrolled hypertension (HANC) (≥140/90mm Hg). The SABE survey surveyed 23694 older adults; 11264 had a diagnosis of arterial hypertension (HTA) and were taking antihypertensive medication. On the other hand, 5106 older adults, randomly selected, had their blood pressure taken. Participants previously diagnosed with HTA under medical management with antihypertensives and who had had their blood pressure taken at the same time were included, resulting in a sample of 2656 participants. Sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics were evaluated. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyzes with logistic regression were performed.

RESULTS

One thousand one hundred eighty-eight (44.7%) participants presented HANC. A higher prevalence of HANC was observed in adults older than 74 years (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.09-1.57) and lower prevalence in residents of urban areas (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.42-0.71).

CONCLUSIONS

Age over 74 years and living in a rural area were identified as variables associated with inadequate blood pressure control in non-institutionalized older adults in Colombia.

The influence of social support on self-care is mediated by self-efficacy and depression in chronic illness: key findings from the 'SODALITY' observational study

Objectives: Family is a major source of support for older chronically-ill patients and known to be associated with better self-care. Depression and self-care self-efficacy are associated with healthy behaviors and thus may serve as mechanisms by which family support influences self-care.We explored depression and self-care self-efficacy as mediators of the relationship between perceived family support and self-care.Methods: Five hundred forty-one older adults with multiple chronic illnesses were recruited from outpatients and community settings. Three structural equation models (SEM) were fit on cross-sectional data. We measured perceived family support (subscale of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, scores range 1-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, scores range 0-27), selfcare self-efficacy (Self-Care Self Efficacy Scale, standardized scores range 0-100), and self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management (Self-care of Chronic Illness Inventory, standardized scores range 0-100).Results: Participants (mean age = 76.6±7.3 yrs) were predominantly females (55.6%). In the full sample, depression and self-care self-efficacy mediated the relationship between perceived family support and self-care; in the gender-stratified SEM, men's depression was no longer a significant mediator. Depression and self-care self-efficacy were significant mediators of the relation between perceived family support and self-care.Conclusion: In older chronically-ill patients, interventions addressing perceived family support may facilitate a rapid improvement in self-care self-efficacy and a decrease in depressive symptoms, particularly among women.

The mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between mental health and quality of life in patients with hypertensive nephrology

AIMS

To examine the factors associated with the quality of life and the mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between mental health and quality of life among patients with hypertensive nephrology.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional and correlational study using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist guidelines.

METHODS

A total of 202 participants were collected from November 2019 to September 2020 from the outpatient department of nephrology of a regional teaching hospital in Taiwan using a convenience sampling method. The research tools included the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index, the Chronic Kidney Disease Self-Efficacy Instrument and the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-12. The mediating effect was statistically analysed by linear regression models and verified by Sobel testing.

RESULTS

Mental health and self-efficacy were positively correlated with the overall quality of life. The results showed that the total explanatory variation of mental health and self-efficacy on the overall quality of life was 37.1%. Mental health was the most important explanatory factor, which could explain 27.1% of the variations in the overall quality of life alone. Moreover, self-efficacy was a partial mediator in the relationship between mental health and the quality of life among patients with hypertensive nephrology, with a total effect of 34.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of life of this population can be improved by enhancing mental health, leading to an improvement in self-efficacy. Consequently, improved mental health and self-efficacy will improve the overall quality of life.

IMPACT

Medical staff should be able to assess patients' mental health in providing referrals and assistance in a timely manner. If intervention programmes can be developed to improve patients' self-efficacy, their quality of life can also be improved.

Effectiveness of self-management on adherence to self-care and on health status among elderly people with hypertension

BACKGROUND

Adherence to self-care is the goal of nursing care for elderly people with hypertension to give them optimal functional health status. The purpose of this paper is to determine the effectiveness of self-management on adherence to self-care and management of health status elderly people living with hypertension in Pekanbaru City.  Design and methods: This study design was quasi-experimental with a pre-post test with a control group. The self-management intervention was provided through four home visits to elderly people living with hypertension with a caregiver. Samples were taken by the consecutive sampling technique, and a total number 134 elderly people were participants. The instruments used were the adherence to self-care questionnaire and the Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF12) for elderly people.

RESULTS

 The results showed that most of the respondents with hypertension were 60-74 years of age (84.3%), were female (67.9%), of Minang ethnicity (48.5%), had completed primary school (44%), were unemployed (81.3) %), had a family history of hypertension (50%), were non-smokers (52.2%), and had never drunk alcohol (95.5%). The effects of self-management were positive on adherence to caring for themselves (p<0.001) and on health status (p<0.001). The most influencing factor on self-care compliance and health status after being controlled by confounding variables was self-management (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

 This study recommends that nursing interventions on self-management for elderly people with hypertension in the community and should be integrated into the Community Health Nurses' (Perkesmas) program in Indonesia.

The association between self-efficacy and self-care in essential hypertension: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The successful management of hypertension requires sustained engagement in self-care behaviour such as adhering to medication regimens and diet. Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory suggests that self-efficacy is a major determinant of engagement in self-care behaviour. Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviours necessary to produce specific performance attainments. This systematic review of observational studies aims to summarise and evaluate the quality of evidence available to support the association between self-efficacy and engagement in self-care behaviour in hypertension.

METHODS

Searches were performed of the Pubmed, MEDLINE, CINAHL and OpenSIGLE databases from database inception to January 2020. Reference lists and individual journals were also hand searched. Observational studies in English quantifying self-efficacy and self-care behaviour in hypertensive adults were included. The quality of included articles was assessed with the National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tool for observational studies.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 102 studies, of which 22 met the inclusion criteria for full-text review. There were 21 studies which reported that higher self-efficacy was associated with engagement in self-care behaviours including medication adherence (n = 9), physical activity (n = 2) and dietary changes (n = 1). Of these, 12 studies were rated as 'good' on the quality assessment tool and 10 were 'fair'. A common limitation in these studies was a lack of objectivity due to their reliance on self-reporting of engagement in self-care behaviour.

CONCLUSION

Our review suggests an association between self-efficacy and self-care. However, the evidence supporting this association is of low to medium quality and is limited by heterogeneity. Our findings suggest the need for further well-designed interventional studies to investigate this association.

Does the Presence of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms Mediate the Association Between Family Functions and Self-Efficacy in Pregnant Women in the Third Trimester?: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Objectives: Pregnant women in the third trimester can be more vulnerable to adverse mental health outcomes, but there is limited research on the association between family function and self-efficacy and potential mediation by symptoms of anxiety and depression. Methods: The cross-sectional study enrolled 813 pregnant women in the third trimester from 14 communities of Hengyang city, Hunan province of China. All of the participants completed a battery of self-report measures of family function (Family Adaptation Partnership Growth and Resolve Index, APGAR-family), self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale, GSES), anxiety (measured by Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale with seven items, GAD-7), and depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire with nine items, PHQ-9). The correlation analysis was performed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Baron and Kenny's method and multiple mediation models with bootstrapping were used to determine whether the symptoms of anxiety and depression mediated the association between family functions and self-efficacy. Results: There were 22.6% pregnant women in the low level of self-efficacy, with 60.9% in the moderate level and 16.5% of respondents in the high level. Self-efficacy had significant correlations with both anxiety symptoms (r = -0.19, p < 0.05), depression symptoms (r = -0.22, p < 0.05), and family function (r = 0.31, p < 0.05). Anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with self-efficacy (β = -0.016, p < 0.05). Depression symptoms were significantly associated with self-efficacy (β = -0.024, p < 0.05). Anxiety and depression symptoms partly mediated the association between family function and self-efficacy, accounting for 11.4 and 16.4% of total effect, respectively. It was indicated that pregnant women with a high degree of family function are less likely to have emotional symptoms and predicted to have higher levels of self-efficacy. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression show mediating effects in the association between family function and self-efficacy. Improved family function can have a positive impact on pregnant women in the third trimester.