Title : Analysis of the current status and influencing factors of active health behaviors among community-dwelling elderly hypertensive patients
Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the current status of active health behaviors among elderly hypertensive patients in the community and explore the factors influencing these behaviors, providing a basis for improving the active health behaviors of this population.
Methods: A convenience sampling method was employed to conduct a survey among 401 elderly hypertensive patients in a community in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, from November to December 2023. The survey utilized a general information questionnaire, the Hypertension Patient Active Health Behavior Scale, the Digital Health Literacy Assessment Scale for Community Elderly, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing active health behaviors.
Results: The average score of active health behaviors among elderly hypertensive patients in the community was 109.86±21.64. Multiple linear regression showed that age, per capita monthly household income, health status, form of medical payment, digital health literacy, and illness perception were factors influencing active health behaviors in elderly hypertensive patients in the community (P<0.05), explaining 60.6% of the total variance. The mediating effect of digital health literacy on the relationship between illness perception and active health behaviors among community-dwelling elderly hypertensive patients is significant (Bootstrap 95% CI: 0.144, 0.039).
Conclusion: The level of active health behaviors among elderly hypertensive patients in the community needs improvement. Higher levels of active health behaviors were associated with older age, higher per capita monthly household income, better self-assessed health status, and having medical insurance as the form of payment. Positive illness perception and digital health literacy also had a favorable impact on the active health behaviors of elderly hypertensive patients in the community.
