The effect of a self-management programme on blood pressure levels among people with hypertension: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Hypertension (HT) progression and complications depend on blood pressure levels. Managing blood pressure can reduce complications, increase well-being and improve quality of life. Purpose: The study examined how an app-based self-management programme affected HT patients’ blood pressure. Methods: The Police General Hospital in Thailand employed a randomised controlled trial design between June 2022 and June 2023. Forty-eight people were randomly split into two groups using permuted blocks: the control group ( n = 24) and the experimental group ( n = 24). The experimental group monitored their blood pressure for 4 weeks using a combination of apps and the phone, whereas the control group received standard care. The information was gathered by measuring blood pressure. Descriptive statistics and t-tests for independence were employed to analyse the data. Results: The independent t-test results revealed a statistically significant reduction in the systolic blood pressure levels of the experimental group after the intervention ( t = 2.945, df = 46, p = 0.005). However, no significant decrease was observed in the diastolic blood pressure levels of the experimental group after the intervention ( t = 0.877, df = 46, p = 0.385). Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of a self-management programme utilising a mobile application in reducing blood pressure levels.