title: Impact on blood pressure control of a six-month intervention project.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a six-month structured education programme on blood pressure (BP) control in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. All patients attending the Specialist Hypertension Clinic, University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), between January 4 and March 29, 1999, with blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg (n = 80), were randomly divided into Group 1, cases (n = 42) and Group 2, controls (n = 38). A 40-item pretested questionnaire, administered at the baseline and final visits of both groups, elicited demographic, lifestyle and knowledge data. Group 1 attended monthly structured interventions for six months. Except for diastolic blood pressure among male controls, diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure were significantly reduced at the end of the intervention period (p < 0.01). Knowledge improved among the male patients (p < 0.01). Among the female patients, activity scores were significantly increased (p < 0.01), weight (p < 0.05) and BMI (p < 0.05) were significantly reduced. There were no differences in these variables among the controls. This intervention had a benefit in blood pressure control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Nursing Education and Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors