A Comparison Between Impact of a Health Education Program Using In-situ Training and Text-Messaging on Lifestyle and Blood Pressure in Military Personnel at Risk of Hypertension

• Main Authors: Mohsen Saffari, Hormoz Sanaeinasab, Hojat Rashidi-Jahan, Mohammad-hassan Hajijafar-Namazi, Mojtaba Sepandi, Mohammad Samadi, Esfandiar Azad-Marzabadi
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Iranian Association of Health Education and Health Promotion 2019-04-01
• Series: آموزش بهداشت و ارتقاء سلامت ایران
• Subjects: prehypertension; text messaging; lifestyle; military personnel; health education; in-situ training
• Online Access: http://journal.ihepsa.ir/article-1-1071-en.html

Background and Objective: A basic intervention to reduce prevalence of the disease is educating healthy lifestyle particularly for those who are at risk. Present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of two methods of in-situ training and text messaging on blood pressure and lifestyle in a number of military forces susceptible to hypertension.  Methods: Using a quasi-experimental study, 100 individuals from military forces were randomly assigned to either in-situ training or text messaging groups. Initial assessment on systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as lifestyle, body mass index, and physical activity were conducted. Then both groups experienced an educational intervention either by in-situ training or text messaging. Three months after the intervention all variables were assessed again and the data were analyzed by student t-test and Chi-square statistical tests.        Results: Systolic blood pressures in average revealed a significant reduction in both groups after intervention compared to baseline. Variables such as weight, body mass index, and physical activity improved in both groups after intervention. Although, the lifestyle total score changed considerably in both groups, in the text-messaging group there was no notable change in domains including health responsibility, spiritual growth, and interpersonal relationships.  Conclusion: Text messaging to somewhat may be effective as well as in-situ training to change some health related behaviors and consequently be resulted in blood pressure control.