A content analysis of patient centredness in hypertension care after consultation training for nurses

Lifestyle changes are important when it comes to reducing the risk factors for cardiovascular complications. There is evidence that these changes are more successful if counselling is conducted in a patient-centred way. The purpose was to analyse how nurses used patient-centred counselling with hypertensive patients after video-recorded consultation training. Nineteen nurses from nurse-led clinics in hypertension care at Swedish health centres participated in residential counselling. Two audio-recordings with hypertensive patients in regular practice were made before and after the training and analysed with the emphasis on patient centredness. Weighing up the pros and cons, the identification of beliefs about treatment and negotiations about the reasons for and where to begin behavioural change increased. A slight increase in reflections and pauses was observed. Expansive and provocative questions and the identification of goals or goal-setting were used sparsely. As a result of the training, the nurses gave individually-adapted information more frequently.