Preliminary Validation of the Hypertension Self‐Care Activity Level Effects (H‐SCALE) and Clinical Blood Pressure Among Patients With Hypertension

Abstract

This study establishes preliminary validation of a measure that assesses hypertension self-care activities with clinical blood pressure (BP). The Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level Effects (H-SCALE) was administered to patients with hypertension to assess levels of self-care. Patients (n=154) were predominantly female (68.6%) and black (79.2%). Greater adherence to self-care was associated with lower systolic and diastolic BP for 5 of the 6 self-care behaviors. Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among US adults, affecting one third of the adult population older than 20 years 1 and approximately 70% of adults older than 65 years.2 African Americans experience hypertension at rates of 43.0% for men and 45.7% for women, while rates for white men and women are 33.9% and 31.3%, respectively, and Mexican American men and women have prevalence rates of 27.8% and 28.9%, respectively.1 Despite some estimates that show modest declines in blood pressure (BP) prevalence, 3 clinicians will be actively engaged in chronic disease management with patients diagnosed with hypertension for the foreseeable future. While trends suggest increased awareness of hypertension among the population and higher treatment rates in the past decade, less than half of hypertensive adults have controlled hypertension regardless of race/ethnicity or sex.

Factors Predicting Self-Care Behaviors among Low Health Literacy Hypertensive Patients Based on Health Belief Model in Bushehr District, South of Iran

“…This is a 31-item scale and was prepared by Zinat Motlagh [ 20 ]. The H-scale is designed to help primary care physicians to guide hypertensive patients who are seeking to achieve blood pressure control [ 21 ]. The H-scale examines the level of self-care by asking about the number of days per week on which an individual performs a self-care behavior.…”

A Theory-Based Self-Care Intervention with the Application of Health Literacy Strategies in Patients with High Blood Pressure and Limited Health Literacy: A Protocol Study

“…Self-care behaviors will be determined using the 31-item hypertension self-care activity level effects (H-scale) prepared by Findlow [ 28 ]. This scale aims to help physicians for a better guidance to hypertensive patients who are looking for attaining blood pressure control [ 29 ]. The H-scale surveys the level of self-care by questioning about the number of days per week on which an individual carries out a self-care behavior.…”

Self-Care Behaviors and Related Factors in Hypertensive Patients

“…This is a 31-item scale and was prepared by Findlow (29). The H-scale is designed to help primary care physicians better counsel hypertensive patients who are seeking to achieve blood pressure control (30). It is recommended by the JNC 7 and has been used in several different studies (31-33).…”