Abstract:
This study was a survey of existing non-experimental nursing research conducted
during 1978-2005 among patients with hypertension in Thailand The survey focused on
research design,methodology and its findings. 107 Research titles retrieved throuth a library
data base system of public university and Praboromarajchanok Library ; and Thai index
medicus data base. Result revealed that hypertension research was first published in Thai
index medicus in 1978 while the first master degree thesis was published in the library data
base snice 1981. Most studies were correlational studies, conducted among patients receiving
medical services from the outpatient departments of various hospitals. Samples in most
studies were selected purposively. The main variables of these studies included disease
control conditions and health behavior variables. Most studies, especially the master-degree
thesis, presented with the conceptual frameworks. Data were collected by using the
instruments developed by the researchers and the quantitative data analysis were utilized.
Hypothesis testing results of those studies could be classified into 3 categories 1)
factors related to health behaviors and other variables, 2) factors related to the control of
hypertension, 3) factors related to hypertension. These results have led to the understanding of
health behavior of patients with hypertension and other factors related to such behaviors.
Nurses can apply this evidence-based information to their nursing practice in order to prevent
and control risks of hypertension and to provide more effective nursing care to control blood
pressure and prevent complications. This study will also benefit other nurse researchers in
developing experimental and quasi-experimental research for further modification of patients
behaviors and control their hypertensive conditions.
This servey study has found that only few research has determined factors affecting
treatment compliances and no research has explored hypertension preventing and control
behaviors. Therefore, more research addressing these issues should be promoted.