Effects of the high blood pressure prevention behavior improvement program among the at-risk adults in municipality areas of Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

This study was an experimental research using two groups, measuring results before and after the experiment (randomized pretest-posttest control group design) to compare results of the program to develop behavior to prevent high blood pressure in at risk adults in Nakhon Ratchasima Municipality. The sample group consisted of 41 people over the age of 35 who were at risk for high blood pressure, and were randomly assigned to a group of 41 people who received a health education program based on protection motivation theory and social support. In the comparison group, 41 people did not receive any programs. Over the course of eight weeks, the experiment was conducted. Using questionnaires, data were collected twice before and after the experiment on demographic characteristics, knowledge of high blood pressure, perceived severity and vulnerability of high blood pressure, and response efficacy for controlling high blood pressure, expected self-efficacy of high blood pressure prevention, and practices for preventing high blood pressure were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum, and minimum values. The mean scores of the results were compared using Paired t-tests and ANCOVA, which accounted for confounding variables such as BMI, education level, and caffeine consumption.

The study results found that after the experiment, the experimental group had a mean score of knowledge about high blood pressure, perceived severity and perceived vulnerability of high blood pressure, response efficacy of controlling high blood pressure, expected self-efficacy of high blood pressure prevention, and practices to prevent high blood pressure. It was significantly higher than before the experiment (p-value<0.001), as well as significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. This study indicates that this high blood pressure prevention behavior development program can induce fear of high blood pressure among high-risk groups. In terms of health behavior development, it has a very good effect.