Characteristics and Palliative Care Needs of Older Indonesian Adults With Chronic Hypertension

Background: Chronic diseases like hypertension have become a global burden in the older population and are associated with high mortality rates and poor quality of life. The tenacity of these diseases could increase the comorbidities and impact older patients who need palliative care (PC) services to manage the symptoms and improve their quality of life. This study aims to determine the characteristics and determinants of PC needs of older Indonesian adult patients with chronic hypertension. Methods: This cross-sectional study applied a quantitative research design. The study was conducted in a primary healthcare facility in Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, from July to October 2022. The study subjects were 142 elderlies with chronic hypertension who were recruited by the census method. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Indonesian version of the supportive and PC indicators tool (SPICT 2019 version). The data were analyzed with the Pearson chi-square test at a significant level P