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

ABSTRACT 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.