Management of chronic hypertension in older men: An exploration of patient goal-setting

ObjectiveGoal-setting is an approach to collaborative chronic care that involves clinicians and patients working together to set goals and to initiate and maintain specific self-care behaviors. Using patients’ own perspectives, this study describes how goals for the self-management of hypertension are developed and whether or not they conform to the characteristics of effective goal-setting.MethodsQualitative methodology was used to explore the process of setting self-management goals for hypertensive patients. Thirty patients participated in semi-structured interviews that ascertained the detail and specificity of self-care goals, timing and quality of feedback for setting and monitoring goals and the role of family members and caregivers in setting goals.ResultsPatients understood the risks associated with hypertension, had intentions to control their disease, reported conducting at least one self-care task and set informal goals for themselves; however, these goals lacked the characteristics needed to initiate and maintain behavior change.ConclusionPatient goal-setting is underdeveloped and poorly supported in chronic hypertension care. Future studies need to examine ways to support effective goal-setting.Practice implicationsAs part of chronic hypertension care, health care providers should incorporate time and support for dedicated goal-setting to improve the effectiveness of self-management behaviors.