The Effects of Self-Management Supportive Program on knowledge and Stroke Prevention Behavior among High risk of Hypertensive Persons in The Northern Part of Thailand

Abstract

     This study was quasi-experimental research with a two-group pretest-posttest design that aimed to study the effects of a self-management enhancement program on knowledge and behaviors regarding stroke prevention. The sample consisted of 60 persons aged 40-60 with blood pressure ranging from 121/81-139/89 mmHg and a BMI over 23. They were equally divided into a control group and an experimental group. Persons in the experimental group participated in a 6-week self-management program. The research instruments included: 1) a questionnaire about knowledge and behaviors regarding stroke prevention, and 2) a self-management program regarding stroke prevention. Both instruments obtained content validity indices of 0.95 and 0.96 respectively. The questionnaire had a reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of 0.84. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and Mann-Whitney U test.
     The findings revealed that: 1) after participating in the program, the experimental group reported higher mean scores of knowledges and behaviors regarding stroke prevention than before participation (p<.01), and 2) the mean scores of knowledge and behaviors regarding stroke prevention reported by the experimental group were higher than those of the control group (p<.01). Accordingly, the self-management enhancement program proved suitable for stroke prevention among at-risk groups in the community.