Effectiveness of Blood Pressure Control Using Home Sphygmomanometer in Patients with Hypertension

Abstract

Uncontrollable blood pressure level is problematic in patients with hypertension. The number of patients with uncontrolled hypertension tends to be increasing. This quasi-experimental study aimed to study the effect of blood pressure control using home sphygmomanometer among patients with hypertension. Samples were 40 patients with hypertension who followed-up at the hypertension clinic of sub-district health promotion hospital at Meuang District in Yasothon province. Research tools were knowledge and behavior questionnaires, satisfaction questionnaire, the blood pressure record form and sphygmomanometer. The study method included capacity building of patients, relatives and village health volunteers; sphygmomanometer calibration with individual patients; provision of home sphygmomanometer; assigning the patients, relatives or village health volunteers to measure blood pressure at home for 4 consecutive days each month, continuously monitored 2 times in the morning and 2 times in the evening during November 2015 to May 2016. The blood pressure measurements were monitored via Line application or telephone. Village health volunteers visited patients every week. A public health officer visited patients twice a month. Data were analyzed using a descriptive statistics and independent t-test. It was found that after the implementation, the patients had significantly higher mean scores of knowledge (p<0.001, Mean difference=6.00; 95%CI=5.60-6.40) and behavior than the baseline (p<0.001, Mean difference=3.12; 95%CI=2.40-3.90). Satisfaction score was also high among them (Mean=4.12, SD=0.219). In addition blood pressure monitoring at home had lower mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure level (p<0.001, Mean difference=10.08; 95%CI=7.89-12.26) and (p<0.001, Mean difference=12.17; 95%CI=9.84-14.51). Therefore, applying blood pressure monitoring at home in patients with hypertension would encourage the patients to be aware about behavior modification. Thus, every sub-district health promotion hospital should use this model for the control of hypertension among risk groups. Furthermore, Ministry of Public Health and local organizations should provide blood pressure for all patients to promote home blood presure measurement.