Effects of the Supportive-Educative Nursing Program on Self-care Knowledge, Self-care Behavior and Clinical Outcomes of Hypertensive Patients at Risk of Renal Complications

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a supportive-educative nursing program on the self-care knowledge, self-care behavior and clinical outcomes (i.e. microalbuminuria and renal filtration rate) of hypertensive patients at risk of renal complications. Method: This quasi-experimental research employed a pre-test and post-test of two groups. The eligible sample was 50 hypertensive patients at risk of renal complications who were followed up at the chronic disease clinic of Banluam Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima province during July – December, 2016. A total of 25 patients were in the study group and the rest in the control. The study group received the supportive-educative nursing program for eight weeks together with a handbook of self-care, video clips and food models, whereas the control group was provided by the usual care. Data were collected using a questionnaire that contained the demographic data, self-care knowledge, and self-care behaviour. The evaluation was performed in week 1 as a pre-test, week 8 as a post-test, and week 20 for the follow-up. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi–square test, independent t–test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. Results: The mean scores of self-care knowledge and self-care behaviour in the study group for the post-test and follow-up were significantly higher than those in the control group (P-value < 0.001). At follow-up, the microalbuminuria value in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P-value < 0.001), but the renal filtration rate between the two groups was not different. Conclusion: The supportive-educative nursing program improved the self-care knowledge, self– care behavior and microalbuminuria of hypertensive patients at risk of renal complications compared with the usual care. Keywords: supportive-educative nursing program, self-care knowledge, self-care behavior, clinical outcomes, hypertensive patient