Home Application by Hemodialysis Patients for Hypertension Management

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine home application by hemodialysis patients for hypertension management. MATERIAL and METHODS: The population of the descriptive study included a total of 279 patients who were treated at the hemodialysis centers of two state hospitals, one private hospital and one training and research hospital situated within Karabük province. A total of 120 patients who were over 18 years of age, had hypertension, could communicate, and whose clinic state were stable, who did not have any mental and psychiatric disorder and who accepted to participate in the research voluntarily were included in the sample. RESULTS: It was determined that 59.2% of the patients who participated in the study did not measure their blood pressures at home regularly; 44.6% did not take their medication regularly and did not know the name and dosages of their medication (60.7% and 64.3% respectively); 73.2% had stopped taking medication without the physician’s knowledge; 85% used salt in meals; and 70.8% and 46.7% respectively did not comply with the liquid limitation. CONCLUSION: It is important to reveal the effects of a nursing care approach for supporting hypertension self-management at home of our patients based on their individual characteristics through studies focusing on regular training, monitoring and providing consultancy services.