Impact of the virtual anti-hypertensive educational campaign towards knowledge, attitude, and practice of hypertension management during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND One of the efforts to reduce hypertension rates in the community is through an educational campaign that refers to the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute curricula or abbreviated as NHLBI. However, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, one of the hardest hit areas is health promotion, and there is a significant obstacle regarding the most effective way to transfer knowledge, attitude and practice towards society without transmitting the virus. AIM To evaluate the impact of the virtual anti-hypertensive educational campaign towards knowledge, attitude, and the practice of hypertension management in the primary care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS An online action research with a randomized crossover-controlled trial using a pretest-posttest control group design. The study was conducted in October 2020-April 2021. The population in this study were patients with hypertension who were treated in the Mojo primary health care setting. A purposive sampling technique was done to receive 110 participants using an online questionnaire and invitation letter. RESULTS A total of 110 participants were included in the analysis, 55 in the intervention group and 55 in the control group. Following the Virtual Anti-Hypertensive Educational Campaign implementation, the only parameter that showed significant improvement was knowledge and attitude ( P < 0.001). There is no significant change in the practice parameters ( P = 0.131). CONCLUSION The Virtual Anti-Hypertensive Educational Campaign implementation in our study population seems to be effective to improve knowledge and attitude of participants, nevertheless, this program seems to be ineffective to improve the practice of hypertension management aspect in participants. Future study with longer durations and more comprehensive programs need to be done to scrutinize the clinical impact of this program nationwide.

Virtual patient education for hypertension: The truth about behavioral change

“…To address the global burden of hypertension, the Lancet commission encourages governments, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare professionals, and professional societies to develop simple mobile apps and online education programs to provide equal basic health access to people in low-income and middle-income countries[ 9 ]. In sync with this concept, the study conducted by Andrianto et al [ 1 ] reveals the importance of anti-hypertensive education in lower-middle-income countries. They found that virtual anti-hypertensive educational campaign implementation led to a significant improvement in the knowledge and attitude of patients with hypertension; however, it did not reflect a change in patient practice in taking measures against hypertension[ 1 ].…”

“…In sync with this concept, the study conducted by Andrianto et al [ 1 ] reveals the importance of anti-hypertensive education in lower-middle-income countries. They found that virtual anti-hypertensive educational campaign implementation led to a significant improvement in the knowledge and attitude of patients with hypertension; however, it did not reflect a change in patient practice in taking measures against hypertension[ 1 ].…”

“…In a recent article titled “Impact of the virtual anti-hypertensive educational campaign towards knowledge, attitude, and practice of hypertension management during the COVID-19 pandemic”, Andrianto et al [ 1 ] emphasized the importance of online education in patients with hypertension[ 1 ]. Given the burden of hypertension, we found this article very interesting and promising for health promotion.…”

“…In the United States itself, hypertension costs about $131 billion each year[ 4 ]. From the public health intervention perspective, Andrianto et al 's study is brilliant as we believe that one of the ways to cut the cost of hypertension is community-based interventions, such as health education and support groups, which can help reduce the cost of hypertension by providing individuals with the information and resources they need to manage their condition effectively[ 1 ].…”

“…We are curious as to why a prospective study such as this with robust methodology could detect an improvement in facets of hypertension management but could not alter patient behavior. The education provided by Andrianto et al [ 1 ] was mainly directed toward the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), which is known as one of the most effective dietary interventions to lower blood pressure (BP)[ 1 , 10 ]. While dietary changes constitute a part of the non-pharmacologic therapy of hypertension, trials have shown that DASH dietary pattern reduced BP by 6/4 mmHg compared to a typical American-style diet[ 11 ].…”