title: Self-care agency and blood pressure control.
abstract: This research examined whether blood pressure measurement relates to an individual Self-Care Agency's (SCA) capabilities (self-concept, knowledge, and initiative) to exercise self-care. A sample of 110 hypertensive high-risk urban black Americans (61 males and 49 females) with a mean age of 46 years (range 18-75), was administered the 43 item 'Exercise of Self-Care Agency' scale and a demographic/health questionnaire. The blood pressure (BP) of each participant was measured at the time of the survey. A large number of subjects (72%) had normal BP and 80% low SCA capability scores. Twenty-eight percent had abnormal BP and 21% had high SCA scores. Blood pressure did not relate to self-care agency. The SCA subconstruct, 'Initiative' was significantly related to normal BP (r = 0.3354, P = 0.006). Self-care agency was inversely associated with obesity, cigarette smoking and excessive salt use. These findings suggest a deficit relationship between SCA and therapeutic self-care demand among urban black Americans who are at high risk for hypertension.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Nursing 53201.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Felder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care