Abstract
BACKGROUND: Improvement of the quality of life and self-efficacy of patients with hypertension is essential. The present study aimed to determine the effect of self-care education based on Orem's nursing theory on the quality of life and self-efficacy in patients with hypertension. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in Mamasani, Iran, 2015. Eighty patients were selected using convenient sampling and divided equally into two control and experimental groups based on random allocation. An educational program based on Orem's nursing theory and according to the needs of patients was conducted in the experimental group. Data were collected before, immediately after, and eight weeks after the intervention using "Quality of Life of Cardiac Patients" and "Strategies Used by People to Promote Health" Questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18; Chi-square test, independent t-test, and Analysis of Variances with Repeated Measures were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The mean score of the quality of life in the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group eight weeks after the intervention (106.5±26.5 vs. 85.5±22.5, P=0.03). However, this difference was not significant immediately after the intervention (94.4±25.3 vs. 87.2±22.8, P=0.32). The mean scores of self-efficacy were not significantly different from those of the control group immediately after (68.5±12.7 vs. 66.5±12.2, P=0.47) and eight weeks after the intervention (70.5±13.5 vs. 65.7±12.0, P=0.10). CONCLUSION: The results showed that training self-care based on Orem's theory can improve the quality of life of patients with hypertension. Therefore, it is recommended that nurses in outpatient care of patients with hypertension should apply this theory. Trial Registration Number: IRCT2015081323606N1.