Effects of an Empowerment Program on Health Behaviors of Hypertensive patients in the Health Promoting Hospital of Amphur Mueang, Ubon Ratchathani Province.

Abstract

Objective : This research is a quasi-experimental research to compare the mean scores of health behaviors to prevent stroke in hypertensive patients.

Methods : This research is a quasi-experimental research and the participants were divided into an experimental group of 23 people and a control group of 23 people. The health behavior questionnaire tool had a reliability value of .87. The experimental tools were the empowerment program consisting of 5 activities over 6 weeks. Data analysis used frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The difference in proportions between the experimental and control groups was tested using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. The changes in health behaviors before and after the experiment between the experimental and control groups were compared using the independent t-test.

Result : The results of the study found that the experimental group changed its health behavior in hypertensive patients more than the control group, with statistical significance at p < 0.05 (t = 1.950, p (2-tailed) = 0.003).

Conclusion : The empowerment program can modify health behaviors of hypertensive patients. Public health personnel can apply the empowerment program to prevent stroke in hypertensive patients.