Effect of Family-centered Empowerment Model on Quality of Life in Patients with Hypertension

Background and Hypertension is one of the most common diseases in the world that like many chronic diseases decreases the quality of life (QOL). Maintaining and promoting the quality of life in these patients requires support of their families. This research aimed at investigating the effect of family-centered empowerment model on the quality of life and blood pressure levels in patients with hypertension. This experimental study was conducted in 120 patients with hypertension, selected by stratified sampling in Gonabad, Iran, 2013. They were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group. Family-centered empowerment model was implemented in experimental group. Demographic characteristics were recorded and SF-36 was used to measure the QOL. Data was analyzed applying chi-square test, Paired-samples t test and Independent-samples t test. There was no significant difference between the two groups in demographic characteristics. The two groups did not have significant differences in quality of life before the intervention (P=0.819). The QOL mean score in experimental group increased significantly after the intervention (P=0.001). Before the study, no significant difference was observed between the mean systolic (P=0.555) and diastolic (P=0.358) blood pressure levels. But they lowered significantly after the intervention (P=0.008 and 0.014, respectively). Our results showed that family-centered empowerment model could enhance quality of life and lower blood pressure in hypertension patients.