Understanding the Barriers to Self‐Management of Hypertension: A Qualitative Exploration of Patients' Lived Experiences

This study adopted a qualitative design to explore lived experiences related to barriers in self-management among hypertensive patients. The study site was a tertiary general hospital in northeast China. Purposive sampling was used to select 12 patients hospitalized in four cardiovascular departments in the hospital. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain information from patients between January 2021 and March 2021, and the data were stored using a digital recorder. Data management was accomplished by NVivo 12, and thematic approach was performed for data analysis. Three themes emerged from this study: (1) effect of individual beliefs on blood pressure, (2) challenges in self-management of the disease, and (3) insufficient resources support. The findings offer guidance for healthcare professionals to develop more effective self-management interventions to lower blood pressure and enhance self-management level for hypertensive patients. The results also provide evidence that can inform administrators and departments' supervisors in implementing supportive measures for self-management of hypertension.