Title:Predictive Factors for the Care and Control of Hypertension Based on the
Health Belief Model Among Hypertensive Patients During the COVID-19
Epidemic in Sirjan, Iran
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Author(s): Reza Sadeghi, Mahmood Reza Masoudi, Athina Patelarou and Narges Khanjani*
Affiliation:
- Neurology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Keywords:
Predictive factor, COVID-19, self-efficacy, hypertension, health belief model, epidemic.
Abstract:
Background: Hypertension is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality around
the world. Preventing this health problem is considered an important priority. The aim of this study
was to investigate the predictive factors for care and control of hypertension (CCH) according to
the health belief model (HBM), in patients with hypertension during the COVID-19 epidemic in
Sirjan, Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were chosen by simple random sampling. Data
were collected by a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire from 200 patients with high
blood pressure aged 30-60 years. Data were analyzed by SPSS21 and analysis based on descriptive
statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and linear regression was conducted.
Results: The results of Pearson correlation coefficients showed that there was a significant correlation
among almost all constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM), but the strongest correlations
were between self-efficacy and perceived susceptibility (r = 0.940, P ≤ 0.001), and between perceived
barriers with perceived benefits (r = -0.615, P ≤ 0.001). According to linear regression, perceived
barriers (β = -0.291), cues to action (β = -0.590), and knowledge (β = 0.973) predicted more
than 26% of CCH variability. Knowledge had a stronger role than other variables.
Conclusion: The results of this study show that the constructs of the Health Belief Model can predict
CCH in hypertensive patients. This model can be used as a tool for designing and implementing
educational interventions to increase CCH among hypertensive patients.