title: Self-care agency and factors related to this agency among patients with hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to assess the self-care agency and factors regarding this agency among patients with hypertensions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study, descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional in nature, was conducted to evaluate the self-care agency of 120 hypertensive patients at the Cardiology and Internal Diseases Polyclinic of University of Ege, Faculty of Medicine; izmir Atatürk State Hospital; University of Selçuk, Faculty of Medicine; and Karaman State Hospital between July and August 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data were collected by using the self-care agency scale and a questionnaire designed to determine the socio demographic features, and evaluated by means of percentage calculation and chi-square tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean self-care agency rate of the patients in general was moderate. It was determined that educational situation and social insurance affected self-care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-care agency and health are related to economic, social and educational factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data obtained could be used for policy formulation, health planning, outcome evaluation of instruments, better health education strategies and, ultimately, to demonstrate the worth of nursing in the marketplace.
authors.affiliation: E.ü Hemşirelik Yüksek Okulu, High School of Nursing Medical Nursing, Bornova-zmir, Turkey. akyol@med.ege.edu.tr
authors.forename: Asiye Durmaz
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: Yurdanur
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cetinkaya
authors.forename: Gülcan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bakan
authors.forename: Selda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yarali
authors.forename: Sittika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akkuş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey