Impact of Training Programs on Awareness and Practice of Lifestyle Modifications among Hypertensive Patients Attending Outpatient Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
C. E. Ijioma
Department of Internal Medicine, Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia, Nigeria.
I. W. Uwalaka
Department of Internal Medicine, Evercare Hospital, Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria.
C. O. Kamanu
Department of Internal Medicine, Evercare Hospital, Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria.
I. E. Okeji
Department of General Medicine, North Cumbria Integrated Care, NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
O. E. Aminu-Ayinde
Accident and Emergency Unit, Mountain Top University Hospital, Prayer City, Ogun State, Nigeria.
I. O. Abali
Department of Surgery, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.
O. J. Orji
Department of acute Medicine, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
O. R. Omole
Department of Community Health Nursing, West African College of Nursing and Midwifery, Lagos State, Nigeria.
C. W. T. Madumere
Department of General Outpatient, Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Umuahia, Nigeria.
A. I. Airaodion *
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study sought to investigate the impact of training programs on hypertensive patients' awareness and practice of lifestyle modifications in out-patient clinics of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Nigeria.
Methodology: The study design was a cross-sectional survey conducted at the out-patient clinics of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. This setting was chosen due to the accessibility of hypertensive patients receiving regular care and follow-up. The sample size comprised 274 hypertensive patients attending the out-patient clinics for regular hypertension management. A simple random sampling method was employed to select study participants, ensuring a fair representation of the target population. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants and results were analysed using SPSS.
Results: Findings indicate that the training programs greatly increased awareness of hypertension and lifestyle factors affecting hypertension for most participants (74.42%), with all participants recommending the programs. A significant majority of participants (95.74%) reported being on hypertension medication, while nearly all (99.22%) had received some form of training or counselling on lifestyle modification for hypertension management. Notably, all participants reported having made lifestyle changes following the training programs, with the majority rating the effectiveness of the programs as highly effective (57.36%). Further analysis indicated a statistically significant relationship between the effectiveness of the training programs and the participants' age, sex, educational level, and occupation. The most frequent lifestyle modification post-training was dietary changes, with 54.65% of participants reporting that they always engage in a healthy diet for hypertension management. However, the frequency of engagement in other lifestyle modifications, such as regular physical activity and weight management, was not as high. The majority of participants reported significant improvements in hypertension symptoms following the lifestyle modifications.
Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that targeted training programs can significantly enhance hypertensive patients' awareness and practice of beneficial lifestyle modifications, thus improving health outcomes. Further, the study underscores the need for such training programs to be tailored according to the age, sex, educational level, and occupation of the patients to maximize their impact.
Keywords: Awareness and practice, hypertension, lifestyle modification, training programs