FACTORS INFLUENCING DELAYED RENAL IMPAIRMENT BEHAVIOR IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION IN THE EASTERN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR

Abstract

 This predictive correlational study aimed to examine factors influencing delayed renal impairment behavior among patients with hypertension in the Eastern Economic Corridor of Thailand. The sample consisted of 213 patients with hypertension, selected through multi-stage random sampling. Data were collected using five-part questionnaires between February and March 2025 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression.

The findings indicated that most participants were female (69%) with a mean age of 64.11 years (S.D. = 8.81). Their delayed renal impairment behavior was at a moderate level (M = 2.67, S.D. = 0.49). Gender, age, body mass index (BMI), knowledge about kidney disease, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and social support collectively explained 33% of the variance in behaviors (R² = 0.33, p-value < 0.001). Among these, BMI, self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and social support were significant predictors (p-value < 0.05).

The findings suggest that health promotion programs should be designed to assist patients in managing their BMI, enhancing self-efficacy and perceived benefits in performing behaviors that delay renal impairment, and providing social support, thereby promoting appropriate health behaviors among patients with hypertension.