CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Hypertension is the most frequent noncommunicable disease in the world, and it is also the primary cause of cardiovascular disease. Because many persons with hypertension are uninformed of their condition, therapy is uncommon and ineffective, resulting in poor control and a failure to take hypertension seriously (Neutel & Campbell, 2008). The vast majority of people with hypertension have essential hypertension, often known as type one hypertension. This form of hypertension has been universally accepted as being caused by heredity and an unhealthy lifestyle. This has become a threat, particularly in Africa, as a result of the adoption of a western lifestyle, which comes with its own set of problems, including an unhealthy environment, poverty, a lack of health-seeking behavior, a lack of health insurance, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Despite this, research have shown that lack of knowledge and awareness are some of the challenges to living a healthy lifestyle and not controlling and avoiding high blood pressure. According to the findings of a study, “when the score of knowledge in high blood pressure patients increases by one, their score of practice increases by 0.12,” it is assumed that increased knowledge about the role of lifestyle in the occurrence of high blood pressure will cause people to begin changing their lifestyles and improving their preventive behaviors. (Jafari, Shahriari, Sabouhi, Farsani & Babadi, 2016).
However, studies have shown that improving knowledge and awareness alone could not be enough to control the effects of diseases by itself but by increasing the score. Moderate alcohol consumption, weight loss of 3% to 9% of body weight, the DASH diet, regular aerobic activity, and reduced dietary salt are all examples of lifestyle modifications that help to regulate blood pressure. Blood pressure reductions of 3 to 11 mm Hg systolic and 2.5 to 5.5 mm Hg diastolic, depending on the type of intervention, are thought to have a significant impact on blood pressure reduction and the capacity to potentiate antihypertensive medicines. The DASH diet is high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products while being low in total and saturated fat, sugar, sugary drinks, refined carbs, and red meat. This DASH diet has been shown to reduce weight, type 2 diabetes risk, heart rate, and blood pressure.
A drop of 14.2/7.4 mmHg in blood pressure is achieved when the DASH diet is combined with salt reduction, alcohol reduction, aerobic exercise, and weight loss, and the prevalence of hypertension is reduced from 38 percent to 12 percent over the course of six months. Reduced salt consumption by hypertension patients, possibly the single most important hypotensive measure, comprises examining food labels for salt level on a regular basis, avoiding processed meals, and flavoring dishes with spices and herbs. It is widely accepted that patients’ personal efforts, along with a supportive and enabling environment provided by health professionals, will lead to considerable success in nutrition and behavioral adjustment (Nicoll & Henein 2010).
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease have a better understanding of and practice with lifestyle change.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Despite treatment guidelines and a plethora of medicines available to treat hypertension, getting people to lower their blood pressure has always been a phantom. Lifestyle modification is a part of the hypertension treatment guidelines. Poorly regulated blood pressure is a significant public health concern for older adults around the world in terms of economic burden, morbidity, and mortality. High blood pressure is the most common and preventable cause of stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, and retinopathy. The necessity of changing one’s lifestyle has been highlighted in recent recommendations for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Increased physical activity, weight loss, and reduced sodium intake have all been shown to help lower blood pressure.
Hypertension is the most common noncommunicable disease in the world, as well as the leading cause of cardiovascular disease. Because many people with hypertension are unaware of their condition, treatment is infrequent and ineffective, resulting in poor control and a lack of respect for the condition (Neutel & Campbell, 2008). Essential hypertension, also known as type one hypertension, affects the majority of people who have hypertension. This type of hypertension is commonly attributed to heredity and an unhealthy lifestyle. This has become a threat, particularly in Africa, due to the adoption of a western lifestyle, which comes with its own set of problems, including an unhealthy environment, poverty, a lack of health-seeking behavior, a lack of health insurance, and many people living sedentary lives.
Unfortunately, many individuals who have been diagnosed with hypertension are frequently unaware of how to change their lifestyle. Weight loss, following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, exercising, and reducing salt consumption have all been shown to be beneficial in lowering blood pressure and minimizing its complications, particularly the risk of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular illnesses (Jafari, Shahriari, Sabouhi, Farsani & Babadi, 2016).
In addition to pharmacological treatment, lifestyle modification is recommended for all hypertension patients since it may eliminate or even minimize the need for drugs. The goal of lifestyle changes prescribed by doctors is to lower blood pressure. This lifestyle changes also offers a lot of health benefits and better outcomes for common chronic diseases (Huang, Duggan & Harman, 2008). (Huang, Duggan & Harman, 2008). This is consistent with the researchers’ experiences with hypertension patients, colleagues, and family members who are resistant to changing their lifestyle. This could be due to a lack of proper knowledge, belief, and reinforcement, as well as a supportive and enabling atmosphere that encourages people to change their lifestyle, as recorded. According to Jafari, Shahriari, Sabouhi, Farsani, and Babadi (2016), having knowledge or a partial knowledge and awareness alone will not lead to a change in health behaviors or practical application of knowledge, but that awareness can be increased through proper educational programs. As a result, the goal of this research is to close the knowledge gap.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The major goal of this study is to see how a training program affects hypertension patients attending out-patient clinics in Lagos in terms of their knowledge and practice of lifestyle change. The following are the precise goals:
Determine the level of existing knowledge of high blood pressure and lifestyle modification in both groups of hypertensive patients; determine the level of reported lifestyle modification practice in both groups of hypertensive patients; Implement a lifestyle modification program among hypertension patients and assess the impact of a training program on hypertensive patients’ knowledge and reported practice of lifestyle modification.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What is the current level of knowledge among hypertensive patients in the control and experimental groups about hypertension and lifestyle modification? What are the reported lifestyle modification practices among both groups of hypertension patients? What effect does a training program have on hypertension knowledge, lifestyle change, and self-reported practice among hypertensive patients in the experimental group after the intervention?
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The hypotheses were tested at a significance level of 0.05.
H1: Patients who participate in the training program will have a greater understanding of hypertension and lifestyle changes than those who do not.
H1: Patients who participate in the training session will report better lifestyle modification practices.
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