The Impact of Health Belief Model-based Education on Self-care Behaviors of Hypertensive Patients

Background: Hypertension is a prevalent health problem worldwide, affecting numerous individuals aged 35 and above.  Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of a health belief model (HBM)-based educational intervention on self-care behaviors of hypertensive patients attending rural health centers in Rasht County, North of Iran. Materials Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 96 hypertensive patients were selected through a multi-stage sampling method and randomly divided into experimental and control groups (48 samples per group). The data collection tool consisted of a valid questionnaire comprising four parts: Demographic variables, knowledge, HBM constructs, and self-care behaviors. The educational program was based on HBM and held during five 45-minute sessions per group (four 12-sample groups). The data was collected twice before and three months after the educational intervention. Results: Before the educational intervention, mean scores for knowledge and HBM constructs, self-care, and blood pressure were equal and showed no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups (P 0.05). However, after three months of the educational intervention, the mean score of knowledge, self-care, and all HBM constructs, except for perceived barriers, increased significantly in the experimental group (P 0.05). Moreover, the patient’s mean blood pressure scores significantly decreased in the experimental group. Conclusion: The substantial reduction in patients’ blood pressure levels indicated the success of the HBM-based intervention in enhancing self-care and blood pressure control in the target population. Therefore, an educational approach is recommended as an effective, cost-efficient, and safe solution in blood pressure control programs.