title: The impact of community-based eHealth self-management intervention among elderly living alone with hypertension.
abstract: Introduction This study intended to examine the effect of an eHealth self-management (eHSM) intervention on elderly Korean persons who live alone in a community. Methods A quasi-experimental study was designed, and a total of 64 elderly persons (intervention n = 31, control n = 33) with hypertension (a systolic blood pressure measurement of ≥140 and/or a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg) or taking anti-hypertensive medication participated. The eHSM intervention consisted of a four-week, in-class educational phase, community-based eHealth monitoring, and monthly telephone counselling for 24 weeks. Results The primary outcome measurement of the study was BP, and secondary outcomes included psycho-behavioural variables. Specifically, the systolic BP among intervention group participants was 133.9 mm Hg at baseline and 122.5 mm Hg after 24 weeks of follow-up. Participants in the intervention group showed greater improvement in self-efficacy, self-care behaviour, and social support than did participants in the control group 24 weeks post-intervention. Discussion The results highlight the clinical efficacy of an eHSM intervention composed of a four-week education program, self-monitoring, and follow-up counselling. The eHSM intervention should be expanded to include community-dwelling elderly persons with hypertension to improve the self-management of hypertension and control of blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: 1 College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyesun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: 2 College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012648:Self Care; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: EHealth; community; elderly; hypertension