title: The effectiveness of a life style modification and peer support home blood pressure monitoring in control of hypertension: protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Death rates due to hypertension in low and middle income countries are higher compared to high income countries. The present study is designed to combine life style modification and home blood pressure monitoring for control of hypertension in the context of low and middle income countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is a two armed, parallel group, un-blinded, cluster randomized controlled trial undertaken within lower income areas in Kuala Lumpur. Two housing complexes will be assigned to the intervention group and the other two housing complexes will be allocated in the control group. Based on power analysis, 320 participants will be recruited. The participants in the intervention group (n = 160) will undergo three main components in the intervention which are the peer support for home blood pressure monitoring, face to face health coaching on healthy diet and demonstration and training for indoor home based exercise activities while the control group will receive a pamphlet containing information on hypertension. The primary outcomes are systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Secondary outcome measures include practice of self-blood pressure monitoring, dietary intake, level of physical activity and physical fitness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study will evaluate the effect of lifestyle modification and peer support home blood pressure monitoring on blood pressure control, during a 6 month intervention period. Moreover, the study aims to assess whether these effects can be sustainable more than six months after the intervention has ended.
authors.forename: Tin Tin
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Hazreen Abdul
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.forename: Azmi Mohamed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nahar
authors.forename: Nurul Ain
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Azizan
authors.forename: Farizah Mohd
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Hairi
authors.forename: Nithiah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thangiah
authors.forename: Maznah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahlui
authors.forename: Awang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulgiba
authors.forename: Liam J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000523:psychology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008019:Life Style; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010379:Peer Group; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome