EFFECT OF A TRAINING PROGRAMME ON KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ATTENDING OUT-PATIENT CLINICS

EFFECT OF A TRAINING PROGRAMME ON KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ATTENDING OUT-PATIENT CLINICS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background of the Study 

The world’s most prevalent non-communicable disease and the main contributor to cardiovascular disease is hypertension. Since many persons with hypertension are ignorant of their illness, treatment is infrequent and insufficient, which contributes to its poor management and lack of attention (Neutel & Campbell, 2008).

The majority of people with hypertension have essential hypertension, often known as type 1 hypertension. This kind of hypertension has been largely attributed to heredity and bad lifestyle choices.

The adoption of the western lifestyle, along with its problems of poverty, an unhealthy environment, a lack of health-seeking behaviour, a lack of health insurance, and a sedentary lifestyle, has made this a threat, particularly in Africa.

The specific guideline for treating hypertension, as stated in the Seven Joint National Committee Criteria (JNC7), is to start with lifestyle changes and finish with medication. Regretfully, a large number of people with hypertension diagnoses typically lack the necessary understanding about changing their lifestyle.

Weight loss, following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, exercising, and consuming less salt are healthy lifestyle choices that have been shown to lower blood pressure and its complications, particularly the rate of morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (Jafari, Shahriari, Sabouhi, Farsani & Babadi, 2016).

For all hypertension patients receiving pharmaceutical treatment, lifestyle change is recommended as it may eliminate or perhaps lessen the requirement for medication.

Lowering blood pressure is the aim of recommended lifestyle modifications. Numerous health advantages and improved results for common chronic diseases are also provided by these lifestyle modifications (Huang, Duggan & Harman, 2008).

However, research has shown that some of the obstacles to leading a healthy lifestyle and failing to avoid and control high blood pressure are ignorance, lack of understanding, and lack of awareness.

As evidenced by a study’s findings that “when the score of knowledge in high blood pressure patients increases by one, their score of practice would increase by 0.12,”

it is assumed that greater awareness of the role of lifestyle in the occurrence of high blood pressure would lead people to begin changing their lifestyles and improving their preventive behaviours. Shahriari, Babadi, Farsani, Sabouhi, and Jafari (2016).