title: Health behavior of hypertensive elderly patients and influencing factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with the health behavior of hypertensive elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional survey used a general data scale, a health conception scale, a scale for self-rated abilities for health practice, and health-promoting lifestyle profiles to investigate the health behavior of hypertensive elderly patients from clinical check-up to hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The health behavior score of hypertensive patients was 72.25 ± 16.66, and 23.8 % of the patients had high scores. The health-promotion score was positively correlated with those of health conception, self-efficacy, and education level, but negatively correlated with that of unhealthy habits (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health practitioners should promote the health conception, enhance the self-efficacy, and improve the health behavior of hypertensive elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou First Municipal People's Hospital, Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical College, No. 1 Panfu Road, Guangzhou, 510180, China. med2001@yeah.net
authors.forename: Shu-xia
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged