Effect of Teaching Intervention Based on Health Action Process Approach on Self-care behavior in Older People with Hypertension: A Quasi-experimental Study

Aging is considered a natural developmental process in which physical, psychological,and social changes occur; hypertension can be one of these problems. Structured teaching, like theHealth Action Process Approach (HAPA), may improve self-care and health in chronic conditions.This study aimed to examine the effect of teaching intervention based on HAPA on self-care behaviorin older people with hypertension. This quasi-experimental study was performed from October 2023 to March 2024 at Valiasrhealth services center affiliated with Jahrom University of Medical Sciences; 70 older people weredivided into an intervention group (35 subjects) and a control group (35 subjects). Teaching interventionwas carried out based on HAPA for the intervention group through seven teaching sessions over sevenweeks. Data were collected using demographic and Hypertension Self-care Profile at baseline and 2months post-intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 with the Chi-square test, Fisher test,Wilcoxon, and Mann-Whitney tests. Statistical significance was considered for P value<0.05. The median of self-care was not significantly different between the control (median: 51(IQR:54-45)) and intervention groups (median: 50(IQR: 58-47)) before the intervention (P=0.26). Two monthsafter the intervention, the median of self-care was significantly different between the intervention(median: 73(IQR: 74-71)) and control groups (median: 50(IQR: 54-45)) (P<0.001). The HAPA could improve self-care behavior in older people with hypertension. Itis suggested that healthcare authorities should pay attention to HAPA in teaching and preventiveprograms for self-care behavior in older people with hypertension.