Preventive Behaviors of Stress Management in Essential-Mild Hypertension Patients at BMA Health Centers Region 48, Bangkok

Abstract

This analytical cross-sectional survey on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of preventive behaviors regarding stress management in 300 essential-mild hypertension out-patients at BMA Health Center No. 48 during February to March 2008 mainly found that (1) the subjects’ knowledge was on a high level (53.0%), with moderate level of attitude (44.3%), and moderate level of practice (51.0%), (2) only an ability to relieve stress (demographic data variable) had a significant statistically relationship with knowledge (p<0.05) and attitude (p<0.001), but not with practices (p=0.074), (3) there was a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between knowledge and attitude (p<0.001); and attitude and practice (p<0.001); but not between knowledge and practice (p=0.142). The key recommendation for clinical practice is that a complete cycle of intervention should be achieved, considering knowledge, attitude, ability to relieve stress and skills to cope with stress, and practice, in order to increase patients’ practice of preventive behaviors regarding stress management. The missing link of an ability to relieve stress and skills to cope with stress to KAP on the current issue is the main improvement recommended for existing health prevention/promotion campaign offered by the involved public sector.