title: The effect of educational programs on hypertension management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Blood pressure control is a challenge for healthcare providers and the rate of blood pressure control is not more than 50% worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a short-term educational program on the level of knowledge, lifestyle changes, and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This quasi-experimental study was conducted on the hypertensive patients attending Shiraz Healthy Heart House. In this study, 112 patients were selected via systematic random sampling. The study data were collected using a data gathering form which consisted of baseline characteristics and measurements of blood pressure. Multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between education and hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the scores of aware, treated, and controlled hypertensive patients were 21%, 20%, and 12%, respectively. However, these measures were increased to 92%, 95%, and 51%, respectively at the end of the study. The mean knowledge scores improved from 2.77 ± 2.7 to 7.99 ± 1.78 after 3 months (P < 0.001). Also, the mean lifestyle scores changed from 3.15 ± 1.52 to 4.53 ± 1.23 (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study indicated that the educational programs were effective in increasing knowledge, improving self-management, and controlling detrimental lifestyle habits of the patients with hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Babaee Beigi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zibaeenezhad
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aghasadeghi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Abutaleb
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jokar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan Branch, Arsanjan, Fars, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shekarforoush
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hajar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khazraei
keywords: Education; Hypertension; Knowledge; Life Style