Open AccessIllness Representations of Hypertension among Nepali Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital Clinic: An exploratory survey
Author(s) -
Ram Kishor Sah,
Andrea M. Straus,
Deepti Shrestha,
Hari Khanal,
Bishnu Dutta Paudel,
Richard R. Love
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of nepal health research council
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1999-6217
pISSN - 1727-5482
DOI - 10.33314/jnhrc.v18i4.2526
Subject(s) - nepali , medicine , psychological intervention , disease , timeline , psychiatry , art , literature , archaeology , history
Background: The prevalence of stage 2 hypertension approaches one-third in adult Nepalis and despite inexpensive effective treatment, long-term compliance is poor. World-wide, a major impediment is the incongruity between hypertension and patients’ symptom-based illness representations. The Common-Sense Model of Self-regulation was used to investigate Nepali illness representations through open-ended interviews of patients with hypertension.Methods: In a tertiary hospital setting, 50 self-identified hypertensive patients were interviewed about their representations of health, hypertension, and hypertensive treatment. Responses were analyzed with a modified Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.Results: An Ayurvedic-influenced health model appeared in illness identity and coping responses. Hypertension was identified as a serious disease having observable, wide-ranging symptoms with chronic and intermittent timelines. Concerns included side-effects and barriers to treatment. Conclusions: Further confirmation and investigation of Nepali common-sense hypertension models in a sample size sufficient for factor analysis is warranted for effective adherence interventions.Keywords: Common-sense model; hypertension adherence; illness representations; Nepal