Abstract

Untreated hypertension can result in severe comorbidities and even mortality, making it a global health concern. One in three Americans, or about 75 million people, suffer from hypertension. 46 percent of those 75 million people have uncontrolled hypertension (Hollier, 2021). Slightly more than half of Americans who have been diagnosed with hyper-tension manage their condition. Significant consequences from uncontrolled hypertension include kidney failure, vision loss, heart attack, stroke, and even death. The researchers conducted a systematic literature review using the databases CINAHL and MEDLINE. All literature reviewed suggested that many patients needed more knowledge and were health illiterate about the parameters of hypertension, treatment protocols, and health risks associated with this disease. The authors designed a research project to address the need for better hypertension health literacy. According to Butzner et al. (2023), uncontrolled hypertension was a significant factor in 516,955 deaths in the United States in 2019. Other modifiable factors also contribute to hypertension, even if they occur as a secondary result of an underlying illness. Yu and Sheu (2020) estimate that around one-third of Americans with hypertension do not take their prescribed medication. Healthcare providers have a responsibility to provide every patient with the tools they need to prevent and manage hypertension to avoid consequences successfully. Thus, to serve as a guide for future research and interventions that can lessen the prevalence of the global hypertension health crisis, it is imperative that the current study evaluates an individual's knowledge of hypertension, ways to prevent and treat hypertension, and risks of non-compliance with hypertension treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the level of health literacy among patients with hypertension. This required determining the patients' awareness of the health concerns associated with untreated hypertension and methods for managing and preventing it in rural Mississippi. The researchers employed a health literacy assessment tool and a sociodemographic questionnaire in this quantitative descriptive study. Data was collected from a convenience sample of patients (n=141) visiting primary care clinics in rural Mississippi. The sociodemographic questionnaire covered a variety of subjects, including age, gender, ethnicity, education, and knowledge. The primary care clinics' patients were given the survey digitally by scanning the QR code provided on the distributed letter of participation to participants, as seen in Appendix A. The survey was also distributed online via social media, utilizing the QR code through Qualtrics. Supplemental questionnaires were distributed by paper to additional Mississippians who could not use the QR code. Participation in the study was voluntary. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The information acquired provided researchers with crucial facts regarding nursing and clinical practice, highlighted areas in need of education, and made recommendations for additional research on health literacy related to hypertension. The researchers applied Dorthea Orem’s Self Care Theory to enhance understanding of promoting self-care in patients. Different researchers have demonstrated that healthcare providers can use Orem's self-care theory as a guide to improve their patients' quality of life and well-being. Effective management of hypertension is essential for promoting overall wellness, treating patients holistically, and improving health literacy. Orem's theory was chosen to enhance the understanding of promoting self-care in patients. Different researchers have demonstrated that healthcare providers can use Orem's self-care theory as a guide to improve their patients' quality of life and well-being. Effective management of hypertension is essential for promoting overall wellness, treating patients holistically, and improving health literacy.

Degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Department

Graduate Nursing

Degree Date

2024

First Advisor

Dr. Emily Stidham

Second Advisor

Dr. Alena Groves

Document Type

Thesis

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