Psychosocial theory in nursing focuses on patients’ well-being through maintaining their mental health stability. Some physical conditions like hypertension requires control for the blood pressure of a patient. The most effective way to do it is to manage their stress level and reaction to external events. This essay analysis how social support relates to Practice Improvement Project that applies the teach-back method to assist patients with hypertension understand the condition and maintain their blood pressure.
Patients should rely on social support whenever they feel that they need some help. It can be both in the form of a group or an individual support. According to Centrella-Nigro and Alexander (2017), teach-back method is a useful tool in the patents’ education. By this, nurses can explain to patients the importance of social support and the ways of how they can call it. Nurses can show that social support is not only asking for the help but also having a good conversation, sharing experience and discussing some issues.
With such approach, patients may significantly reduce their stress level and anxiety that will contribute to their successful manage of blood pressure. For example, Byrd et al. (2021) through analysis of 602 African American adults aged between 48 to 92 found that positive social support experience has a positive effect on blood pressure of the adults. As such, nurses should ensure patients that social support is not just a method of dealing with mental health issues but also an effective way of stabilizing blood pressure. Therefore, teach-back method applied by nurses should be done in a proper way to provide all the necessary information to the patients and convince them to rely on social support more than in ordinary life.
References
Byrd, D. A. R., Jiang, Y., Zilioli, S., Thorpe, R. J., Lichtenberg, P. A., & Whitfield, K. E. (2021). The Interactive Effects of Education and Social Support on Blood Pressure in African Americans. Journals of Gerontology: Series A.
Centrella-Nigro, A. M., & Alexander, C. (2017). Using the teach-back method in patient education to improve patient satisfaction. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 48(1), 47-52.