The Effects of Self-Efficacy Enhancement Program of Square-Stepping Exercise among Older Adults with Pre-hypertension on Exercise Health Related Behavior and Blood Pressure Level

Abstract

This Quasi-experimental research with two group pretest-posttest design aim to study effects of the self-efficacy enhancement program of square-stepping exercise among the elderly people with pre-hypertension on excise behavior and blood pressure level. The sample consisted of 60 elderly people, 30 for experimental group and 30 for control group with the 7 weeks experimental period. The experimental group was enhanced by the self-efficacy enhancement program of square-stepping exercise. The program was developed by the researchers based on applying the self-efficacy of Bandura’s which 4 methods included mastery experience, learning from the role model, verbal persuasion to motivate, and physiological outcomes feedback of the blood pressure level. Data was collected from June-August 2022 by using the personal information interview, exercise behavior questionnaire and blood pressure measurement. All of the three methods approved by 5 experts with the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was  1 for the exercise behavior questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and independent t-test were used to analyze the data.

The results revealed that, the experimental group had mean score of the exercise behavior was higher and the average blood pressure level was lower than before the experiment. Compare with the comparison group the exercise behavior was significantly higher and the blood pressure level was statistically significant lower than before completion of the intervention. This research indicates the researcher has a suggestion that the health team that has a role in caring for the health of the elderly in the community should support the health promotion of the elderly who are not yet diagnosed, Hypertension but have risk of developing the disease, and the elderly with chronic diseases to have appropriate health care behavior by using health media that is the original way of life of the community of people in the area. For example, using local songs and folk songs to design activities that are consistent with health problems to create a gradual change in health behavior in a way of life and culture that is no different from their usual lifestyles. This may result in easier motivation to change the health behavior of the elderly.