The Effect of Self-Management Program on Adherence to Treatment Regimen in Patients with Hypertension

Hypertension is a common challenge in many parts of the world. Medical reports have indicated that failure to control blood pressure is due to patients' non-compliance with treatment. One of the health related behaviors which can lead to successful treatment and reduce the negative side effects and severity of the disease is patients' adherence to the treatment regimen. Using a self-management program is one of the ways to manage the disease by the individual. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of self-management program on adherence to treatment regimen in the pateints with hypertension.

This was a semi-experimental study, which included 70 patients with hypertension in Imam Mohammad Ghazali Clinic in Sanandaj City in 2020. The samples were selected using available sampling method and randomly assigned to two groups, intervention (n=35) and control groups (n=35). The intervention group participated in blood pressure self-management skills training for 2 sessions (45 minutes each session) and the control group was placed in the waiting list. Data collection tools included a demographic information form and a questionnaire of adherence to the treatment regimen of Madanloo patients. Using SPSS-22 software, data were analyzed by Chi-square, Fisher's exact test and repeated measurements.

There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics (p<0.05). The results of the repeated measures analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups in the different aspects of treatment i.e., diligence in treatment (P=0.039) commitment to treatment (P=0.003) and adherence to treatment (P=0.041).Also, the interaction effects of time and group on diligence in treatment (P=0.000), commitment to treatment (P=0.001) and adherence to treatment (P=0.000) were significant. Comparison between intervention and control groups showed self-management training in the intervention group led to increase in the average scores of adherence to treatment aspects, including diligence in treatment, commitment to treatment, and the overall score of adherence to treatment (P<0.05).

 The designed and evaluated self-care educational interventions in the present study increased adherence to the treatment and improved its components in the intervention group. Therefore, improving self-care in the patients with hypertension, can possibly help maintain blood pressure in the normal range and reduce its related complications.