The interaction in clinical nursing education: reflections on care of the person with hypertension

To identify the knowledge and attitudes about self-care in health among users who received clinical nursing education for hypertension based on the level of knowledge and attitudes of the hypertensive patient through interactive care interventions with patients and relatives in the therapeutic context, with the goal of developing health education. This study represents action research with a qualitative approach on hypertensive patients hospitalized for stroke. Hypertension as a risk factor is most strongly associated with the development of this health problem. Participants were interviewed about their knowledge about the illness before and after the realization of individualized health education activities on the basis of the theory of symbolic interactionism. It was found that the respondents, after participating in the educational process, demonstrated a broader knowledge of hypertension, which motivated them to seek changes in habits that could improve their quality of life. Through the use of symbolic interactionism, health education proved to be a strategy for empowerment and autonomy of the hypertensive subject with respect to their treatment and can be integrated into nursing care.