The social network has positive influence on people's health and well-being and this theme has been widely debated over the past decades. This is a qualitative study including twenty hypertensive patients aged 50 to 80 years old, living in Maringá-PR. The study aimed to identify which individuals, who belong to the hypertensive patients' social network, are considered as support or help to them during their disease and treatment. Results pointed the family network as the most representative in the patient's support, mainly regarding nutrition and medicine use. The doctor was the health professional most remembered by this population, and his/her role was restricted to drugs prescription. We highlight the importance of the social network to hypertensive patients as a strategy to improve their quality of life.
Nursing; Hypertension; Social support; Primary Health Care