EFFECTS OF SELF-REGULATION PROGRAM ON EATING BEHAVIOR, EXERCISE BEHAVIOR, BODY MASS INDEX, AND BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN CITY DISTRICT, LOPBURI PROVINCE, THAILAND

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effect of self-regulation program on eating behavior, exercise behavior, body mass index (BMI), and levels of blood pressure among hypertensive patients. The study sample was hypertensive patients who were uncontrolled blood pressure and overweight. These patients live in City District, Lopburi province. Simple random sampling was used for selecting the study sample following the inclusion criteria. Two groups of the sample included 30 hypertensive patients in an experimental group and 30 hypertensive patients in a control group. Patients in the experimental group receiving the program of self-regulation that researchers developed by using Bandura’s framework. Patients in the control group received traditional care. Instruments for collecting data included the questionnaire of demographic, eating behaviors, exercise behaviors, and the clinical information assessment form, including the record of blood pressure and BMI. Study data were analyzed by using mean, standard deviation, percentage, and frequency. The difference between eating behavior, exercise behavior, BMI, and blood pressure were tested by the paired t-test and dependent procedure. The result revealed that after the patients in the experimental group receiving the program, the average score of eating behavior, and exercise behavior have statistically significantly higher before receiving the program (P ≤ .050). Additionally, levels of systolic blood pressure after participating in the program was statistically significantly lower than before participating in the program. On the other hand, the level of BMI and diastolic blood pressure of the patients in an experimental group has not statistically significantly different between before and after receiving the program (P ≥ .05). For the difference between groups, average scores of eating behavior and exercise behavior of the patients in an experimental group were statistically significantly higher than scores of patients in a control group after receiving the program (p ≤ .050). Also, levels of blood pressure and BMI of the patient in an experimental group after participating in the program was statistically significantly lower than the patient in the control group (p ≤ .050).