Effectiveness of educational intervention to promote blood pressure control amongst hypertensive patients in a rural area of Delhi, India.

Introduction: Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, with suboptimal control in low-income settings. In India, only 22.5% had controlled blood pressure (2016-2020). Educational technologies enhance adherence to treatment and lifestyle changes. This study evaluated an educational intervention's effectiveness in improving blood pressure control in rural Delhi.

Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental study at Rural Health and Training Centre, Najafgarh, Delhi, assessed hypertensive patients in the Non-Communicable Disease Clinic. The intervention included flipchart counselling, weekly voice messages, and text reminders on self-care and adherence. Participants over 30 years had blood pressure, weight, and height measured at baseline and follow-ups (2, 4, 6 months). Data analysis used validated scales and SPSS 21.0.

Results: A total of 110 participants were enrolled, with 102 completing the study. At baseline, the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 151.1 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 87.5 mmHg. SBP decreased significantly over the follow-ups, from 151.1 mmHg to 138.3 mmHg (p < 0.001), and DBP decreased from 87.5 mmHg to 82.8 mmHg (p < 0.001). The proportion of participants with controlled blood pressure increased from 14.7% at baseline to 52.9% at 6 months (p < 0.001). Further, weight loss was associated with improved blood pressure control.

Conclusion: The educational intervention effectively improved blood pressure control among hypertensive patients in a rural setting. The study highlights the importance of lifestyle modifications, particularly weight management, in controlling hypertension. This approach could be upscaled to enhance hypertension management and also can be used in resource limited settings.