title: Outcomes following a programme for lifestyle changes with people with hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of using a structured nursing intervention programme in hypertension care.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Counselling on lifestyle changes to address hypertension helps patients reduce risk factors such as smoking, high alcohol consumption, overweight, dyslipidemia, negative stress and physical inactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed as a pre-test-post-test study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 177 patients diagnosed with hypertension visiting a health centre in Southern Sweden were invited to be counselled by a public health nurse about hypertension, cardiovascular risk factors and non-pharmacological treatment with 15 months follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred patients participated in the study. Systolic blood pressure decreased overall (p < 0.01), three patients with high alcohol consumption were identified, two smokers stopped smoking, two new diabetics were discovered, physical activity increased (p = 0.035) and one-third of the patients changed their medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of exercise increased and a reduction in systolic blood pressure and in women's weight were the most obvious results of this intervention study. The study elucidates the challenge of executing health behaviour changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Counselling following a hypertension programme gives hypertensive patients a chance to execute lifestyle changes and have their medication adjusted to achieve goals for blood pressure control. Further prospective studies in this area, with well-defined intervention approaches and several years of follow up, are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Caring Sciences, Institute of Nursing, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. eva.drevenhorn@comhem.se
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drevenhorn
authors.forename: Karin I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kjellgren
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bengtson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000451:nursing*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D013548:Sweden