title: Experience of hypertensive patients with self-management of health care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to interpret how hypertensive patients experience health care self-management.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide. The involvement of individuals in the management of their health care to treat this disease is fundamental, with aid and advice from healthcare professionals, especially nurses, so that hypertensive patients can effectively self-manage their health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypertensive patients were recruited using theoretical sampling. The study sample consisted of 28 hypertensive patients aged 18-59 years who were registered in the e-Health programme of the Ministry of Health. Data were collected and analyzed between September 2012-October 2014 using a semi-structured interview based on the methodological framework of the constructivist grounded theory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants' statements depicted an outline of their experience with the disease: the beginning of the illness; understanding the disease process; incorporating behaviour for self-management of the disease; experiencing attitudes and actions in the control and treatment of the disease; and being treated in the public healthcare system. A central phenomenon emerged, namely hypertensive patients' experience of self-management of health care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This phenomenon has paths, actions and interactions. When patients discover that they have the disease and become aware of the disease process, they assume the identity of being hypertensive and become proactive in their health care and in living with their families and in communities.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. anicebalduino@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: Anice de Fátima Ahmad
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Balduino
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Ribeiro
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine of Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria José Sanches
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilene Loewen
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D000073278:Self-Management; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adult nursing; chronic illness; grounded theory; health promotion; hypertension; management; nursing; nursing care; primary health care; qualitative research