Effectiveness of Individual Teaching Programme on Knowledge and Practice Regarding Lifestyle Modification among Patients with Hypertension in Selected Urban Community at Mangalore

High blood pressure is called "the silent killer" because it often causes no symptoms for many years, even decades, until it finally damages certain critical organs. Uncontrolled hypertension can cause strokes, cardiac complications, renal damage which can lead to brain or neurological damage. The best prevention for these complications of hypertension is control of the blood pressure. Effective management in hypertension requires a multisectorial approach. It is necessary to create public awareness of this danger and this study is intended to find out the knowledge and practice of lifestyle modification among hypertensive patients.

Objectives of the study:

1. To determine the pre-test score of knowledge on lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in both Group I (experimental) and Group II (control) using a self-structured knowledge questionnaire.

2. To determine the pre-test score of practice on lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in both Group I and Group II using a practice rating scale.

3. To evaluate the effectiveness of individual teaching programme on knowledge on lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Group I and Group II.

4. To evaluate the effectiveness of individual teaching programme in practice on lifestyle modification among patients with hypertension in Group I and Group II.

5. To find the association between pre-test practice scores on lifestyle modification in Group I and Group II and selected demographic variables.

Methods:

An evaluative approach with quasi experimental non-equivalent pre-test post-test design was adopted for the study. Through non-probability purposive sampling technique 60 samples were selected, 30 each in experimental and control group. Formal written permission was obtained from the authorities of the urban community; informed consent was obtained from hypertensive patients to conduct the study. A structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of hypertensive patients on lifestyle modification in hypertension and practice rating scale was used to assess their practice. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Result:

The result revealed that in the pre-test, majority of hypertensive patients had moderate level of knowledge on lifestyle modification in hypertension in both experimental (86.7%) and control group (93.3%). Majority of the subjects in experimental group (63.3%) and control group (66.7%) had moderate practice also. In the post-test, majority of hypertensive patients in the experimental group (93.3%) had adequate level of knowledge regarding lifestyle modification in hypertension and in the control group 10% obtained adequate knowledge. In the posttest majority of hypertensive patients in experimental (86.7%) and control group (96.7%) had average practice on lifestyle modification in hypertension and in the experimental group 13.3% obtained good lifestyle practice. The calculated 't' value for knowledge in the experimental group 16.96 was greater than the table value 1.70 (P<0.05), whereas in the control group the calculated 't' value 0.126 (P<0.05) was less than the table 't' value 1.70 (P<0.05) which shows the individual teaching was effective in improving the knowledge scores for the experimental group. The calculated 't' value for the practice in experimental group 7.21 (P<0.05) was greater than the table value 1.70, whereas in the control group the calculated 't' value 0.43 (P<0.05) was less than the table 't' value 1.70 (P<0.05), which shows the individual teaching was effective in improving the lifestyle practice for the experimental group. The chi-square test score showed there was no significant association of knowledge and practice scores with selected demographic variables in both the groups.

Interpretation and conclusion:

Hypertensive patients must know and practice various lifestyle modificational measures for the effective management of hypertension. The study findings revealed that individual teaching on lifestyle modification was effective in improving knowledge and practice of hypertensive patients in the experimental group. This data indicates that the individual teaching was comprehensive, simple, easy to understand, practicable and effective in increasing the knowledge and practice of hypertensive patients. By improving the knowledge and practice of hypertensive patients on lifestyle modification the risk for complications can be prevented.