Effectiveness of intervention strategies on knowledge of life style modifications in hypertensive patients

Hypertension (HTN) remains a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases globally and it contributes significantly to cardiovascular and renal diseases. It can be controlled by lifestyle modifications, however in poor communities there is lack of awareness, and treatment and control of hypertension is often poor. Despite considerable improvement in increasing awareness, treatment, and control of HTN, undiagnosed and uncontrolled HTN remains a major public health challenge. The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of intervention strategies on knowledge of life style modifications in hypertensive patients. Objectives of the study: 1.To assess the knowledge on lifestyle modifications in hypertensive patients. 2.To find out the effectiveness of intervention strategies on knowledge of life style modifications in hypertensive patients. 3.To find out the association between knowledge and selected demographic variables in hypertensive patients. Methods: A quantitative research approach with quasi experimental nonequivalent pretest posttest control group design was used for the study. 240 subjects with grade I hypertensive patients were selected by convenience sampling method. The tools prepared by the investigator were structured interview schedule on life style and structured interview schedule on knowledge. Results: In the experimental group, 10% had healthy lifestyle in post test-I, 22.5% had healthy lifestyle in post test-II, 48.3% had healthy lifestyle in post test-III. In the control group only 2.5% had healthy lifestyle. In the post test 62.5% and 0.8% had adequate knowledge level in the experimental and control group. The mean pretest knowledge level (9.64) is lesser than the mean post test knowledge (23.86) level in the experimental group. Conclusion: Increasing patients’ awareness and intervention on medication adherence, low salt diet consumption, physical activity, weight management, cigarette smoking cessation, and alcohol consumption reduction are the most important roles of a nurse.