Analysis of Correlation between Self-Efficacy of Self-Care and Demographic Characteristic with Attitude of Low Salt Diet among Patients with Hypertension

Introduction: Hypertension self-care low salt diet that requires long-term care. It makes patients must be adapted with their new lifestyle. They need positive attitude for making adaptive coping mechanism while facing the obstacle. Self-efficacy can change mindset and attitude, so it can influence one's basic interests for forming a commitment to maintain self-care. This study aimed to identify the relationship between self-efficacy levels and attitudes in low-salt diet in hypertensive patients. Methods: Quantitative descriptive correlative with cross-sectional approach. The sampling method is consecutive sampling with 158 respondents. Data collection used 2 questionnaires based on Albert Bandura and Allport theories which created by researcher that had been tested the validity and reliability. Statistical analyses were conducted using crosstab chi-square analyses. Results: It shows that 53.2% of respondents had high self-efficacy level and 56.3% of respondents had positive attitude in low salt diet. There was a significant relationship between self-efficacy level and hypertension attitudes in low salt diet (p=0,000), meaning that person with higher self-efficacy level would have more positive attitude in low salt diet. Conclusions: This research is expected to be a recommendation for nurse to increase hypertension patient’s self -efficacy to create positive attitude in low salt diet by giving intervention self-efficacy training that involve their family. It is expected to pay attention to the attitudes and self efficacy to maintain compliance with low-salt diet. Key words: low salt diet; hypertension; self-efficacy; self-car