Developing an Application for Nursing Practice with Hypertension

Abstract

To address the growing concern of hypertension in Thailand, we developed a mobile health application designed to assist patients in monitoring their blood pressure, adopting healthier behaviors, and improving self-care practices, following recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce modifiable risk factors. This study aims to develop and evaluate a prototype application which integrates data on blood pressure-lowering activities such as exercise routines, dietary changes, and medication adherence, with the effectiveness presented through calculated effect sizes. The application features an assessment form with multiple-choice questions to evaluate users' lifestyle habits, enabling the personalization of recommended activities based on individual needs. Guided by the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation), the prototype development involved systematic reviews and meta-analyses of nursing practices in Thailand. A quantitative online survey with four hundred and fifty-six hypertensive participants was conducted; 56.14% were male, and the majority were aged between 30 and 60 years old. Participants were selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Satisfaction with the application was measured on a 5-point scale, with an average score of 4.45, indicating high satisfaction. Positive feedback suggests that while the prototype shows promise, further development and evaluation are needed to assess its effectiveness in reducing blood pressure and promoting healthy behaviors among hypertensive patients.