Impact of corrective life style educational program on controlling stress, anxiety ,and depression in hypertensives

Abstract

Background and Aim: Life style can cause stress and anxiety and consequently, hypertension. Regarding nurses' influencial role in implementing educational programs to increase patients’ self-control, the present research was designed to study the impact of a lifestyle promoting educational programs on controlling stress, anxiety, depression, and hypertewnsion in Qazvin Mino area in 2010. Materials and Methods: after the present study was a pre/post semi-experimental one conducted on 55 hypertensives. Living in Qazvin Minodar region. DAS (Depression, Anxiety, Stress)-21 general questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire were filled out by the subjects and their blood pressure was measured by the researcher. Then, an educational program covering 4 one-hour sessions of group discussion was held for five groups, each having 11 members. Blood pressure of the subjects was measured at the end of each session. Four months after intervention, the questionnaires were again filled out by the same subjects and their blood pressure was measured and recorded as well. Paired T-test and SPSS software (V: 17) were used for data analysis at the significant level P<0.05. Results: It was found that mean scores of stress (P=0.007), anxiety (P=0.032) and depression (P=0.000) were significantly different before and after intervention. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed no significant difference before and after intervention. Conclusion: Group education during four sessions can improve controlling of anxiety, stress, and depression in hypertensives.

Keywords

• Education
• Health promotion life style
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Hypertension
• Hypertensives