CHANGES IN THE PRACTICE ON PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS AMONG OUT-PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION AT NGHE AN FRIENDSHIP GENERAL HOSPITAL IN 2021

Abstract

Objective: To assess the current practice on preventing complications in patients with hypertension and the changes after health educational intervention at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital. Method: The One Group Pretest-Posttest Design was conducted among 89 hypertensive out-patients managed by Nghe An Friendship General Hospital from February to April 2021. The same tool was used for evaluating the patients’ practice before the intervention and one month later. Results: Before the intervention, the mean score of patients’ practice was 14.30 ± 6.61 points out of total 32 points by the scale. The percentage of patients who had practice at the accepted level was 44.9%. One month after completing the intervention, the mean score of practice increased significantly at 19.40 ± 5.89 points in comparision with this before the intervention (p<0.05). Also, the percentage of patients who had practice at the accepted level went up to 75.3%, was considerably higher than 44.9% before the intervention. Conclusion: The study showed patients’ practice on preventing hypertensive complications was still poor, then improved significantly after the health education program.