Effects of a behavior modification program on knowledge and behavior in older persons with hypertension

Abstract

          Hypertension is one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. This quasi-experimental research aimed to study the Effects of a behavior modification program on knowledge and behavior in older persons with hypertension. Samples were 70 persons and were divided into 2 groups as experimental group and control group. Each group included 35 persons. A control group that did not use a behavior modification program and an experimental group that used a behavior modification program for a period of 12 week. The tools used to collect data include personal information questionnaires, knowledge assessment form for elderly people with hypertension, behavior assessment form for elderly people with hypertension and a behavior modification program. Data were analyzed for describing the characteristic of samples by means, standard deviation and comparing the difference of results between experimental group and control group by Wilcoxon-signed rank test and Mann Whitney U test.

           The research results found that after the experiment: 1) Knowledge and behavior in elderly people with hypertension in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group at p<.05. 2) The experimental group had higher knowledge and behavior in elderly people with hypertension after the experiment than before the experiment, with statistical significance at p<.05. The study results concluded that a behavior modification program had an effect on improving knowledge and behavior change in elderly people with hypertension. Therefore, health personnel can further apply a behavior modification program to promote knowledge and behavior modification in elderly people with hypertension.