Understanding Hypertension Management in Morocco
Hypertension, a pervasive health issue globally, stands as the leading cause of premature death and is recognized as the primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Effective management of hypertension heavily relies on the self-care practices adopted by patients. One of the most prominent tools used for evaluating these self-management practices is the Hypertension Self-Care Activity Level effects scale (H-SCALE). In an effort to enhance the accessibility and relevance of this tool, a significant study was conducted with the objective of translating the H-SCALE into Moroccan dialect and assessing the psychometric properties of this adapted version. Furthermore, the study explores the adherence levels of hypertensive patients to self-care behaviors through the use of this newly adapted tool, aiming to improve the overall management of hypertension among Moroccan populations.
Research Methodology and Key Findings
The research was executed in four primary health care centers located in Settat city, where a comprehensive validation process was carried out. This included a meticulous forward-backward translation and cross-cultural adaptation to ensure the tool's relevance in the Moroccan context. The study engaged six experts to assess content validity, followed by face validity testing among 30 hypertensive patients. A psychometric evaluation was subsequently conducted on a separate sample of 120 patients. The questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews, allowing for richer data collection. Construct validity was determined through exploratory factor analysis, while reliability was gauged using Cronbach’s alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The study also gathered sociodemographic data, clinical information, anthropometric measurements, and blood pressure readings.
The participant pool comprised 120 hypertensive individuals, predominantly female (71.7%), with an average age of 56.64 years. The exploratory factor analysis confirmed a viable six-factor structure that explained 53% of the total variance, supporting the construct validity of the Moroccan version of the H-SCALE. The scale exhibited satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.79) and solid test-retest reliability (ICC of 0.80), with domain-specific coefficients ranging from 0.76 to 0.95. Notably, patients who maintained controlled blood pressure levels demonstrated significantly higher treatment adherence and weight management scores, indicating a positive correlation between self-care practices and health outcomes.
In conclusion, the Moroccan version of the H-SCALE has shown commendable reliability and acceptable exploratory construct validity. These promising findings suggest that this tool could play a significant role in assessing and improving hypertension self-care behaviors within the Moroccan healthcare framework.
As reported by link.springer.com.
