Effect Of Trans-theoretical Model Based Health Education On Lifestyle Of Patients With Hypertension

Aim. The purpose of the study was to develop the intervention based on theTrans-theoretical Model ( TTM) and evaluate effectiveness of the TTM based interventionin promoting lifestyle modification for the patients with hypertension and lower their bloodpressure. The lifestyles included smoking, physical exercise regularly, the high salt andfat intake.Methods. This study was a randomized controlled and single-blind study. Patientswith hypertension were recruited by convenience in cardiovascular wards in the hospital ofSuzhou. They were spilted into two groups based on the randomized table. Theexperimental group received the TTM-based intervention while the control group receivedthe conventional intervention conducted by nurses of the ward. There were two parts ofthe intervention given to the subjects in the experimental group. The subjects receivedthe face-to-face programmes and the reading materials based on their readiness of changewhen they were hospitalized and they received the telephone intervention after theydischarged. The change of smoking, physical exercise, salt and fat intake and other clinicaloutcomes were compared between two groups at one month to three months and sixmonths later after their being discharged.Results. A total of 174 subjects were recruited into this study, 12 subjects dropped outof this study. Results were presented on the remaining 162 subjects with 82 in theexperimental group and 80 in the control group. Results revealed that the stage of changefor quitting smoking was higher (P<0.05) and the daily cigarette consumption was less(P>0.05 at one month to three months discharged, P<0.05 at six months) in theexperimental group, the significant difference was found. The frequency and duration of physical activities was higher in the experimental group with the higher stage of change(P<0.01). The subjects in the experimental group showed higher readiness for change(P<0.01) and consumed less salt and salty food (P<0.01) than in the control group. Thesubjects in the experimental group have a less fat intake (P<0.01) with a higher stagedistribution (P<0.05 at one month to three months discharged and P<0.01 at six monthsafter discharged). The blood pressure was lower at the experimental group (P<0.05 atone month discharged, and P<0.01 at the remaining months). The systolic blood pressurelowered 8.60mmHg and the total cholesterol lowered 0.67mmol/L at sixth month afterdischarged. No significant difference could be found on the BMI between the two groups(P>0.05).ConclusionsConclusions. The TTM-based intervention applied in lifestyle modification topatients with hypertension can effectively offer them a great incentive to change theirlifestyle and lower their blood pressure. The findings provide means for the nurse to findan effective way to help patients with hypertension to make the lifestyle modification.