Educational Program Based on The Theory of Planned Behavior and Its Effect on Self-Care Behaviors in Patients with Pre-Hypertension

Hypertension is one of the most common non-communicable diseases and one of the most important health problems in the world, which can be prevented and controlled at the same time. The theory of planned behavior is one of the important theories that explain the main process of accepting health behaviors. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior on self-care behaviors of pre-hypertension patients referred to hospitals affiliated to Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.

The present study was a quasi-experimental study that was performed on 120 pre-hypertension patients in Zahedan in 1399. Sampling by method as available sample selection and divided into intervention (n = 60) and control (n = 60) groups. 6 training sessions were held for the intervention group and no intervention was performed in the control group. Data were collected before the educational intervention, immediately after the educational intervention, and three months after it, using a questionnaire appropriate to the constructs of the theory of planned behavior.

The mean age of participants was 47/03±6/18, of which 60 were male and 60 were female. In the pre- intervention and post-intervention stages, the mean score of knowledge from 21/15±1/97 to 23/05±1/54 and attitude from 39/90±5/98 to 45/35±1/43, perceived behavioral control from 44/28±4/58 to 49/48±1/42, subjective norms from 40/90±4/08 to 44/40±1/76 and behavioral intention from 41/90±5/93 and the behavior from 42/96±3/39 to 46/61±1/83 increased and this difference was statistically significant (P<0/001); However, no significant difference was observed in the control group.

Educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior can be effective in improving self-care behaviors in patients with pre-hypertension.