Effect of Training through Short Message Service on Compliance and Mean Blood Pressure of Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

Background: Hypertension has been one of the early mortality and morbidity in human societies.
Training and consequently compliance increase will lead to improve treatment progress and
disease control. The study aimed at the effect of training through short message service (SMS)
on blood pressure mean and compliance scale in hypertensive patients. Hypertension control is
essential to prevent early mortality.

Methods: This study is a randomized controlled clinical,
uni‑center, single‑blinded. The study was managed in a health‑care center subordinated to
Medical University of Isfahan, Iran, in 2017. Sampling was a convenient method therefore the
researchers implemented it for 188 hypertensive patients who were allocated randomly into two
groups: SMS group and control group. First, all patients filled the compliance questionnaire, and
their blood pressure was measured. Afterward, the intervention group would be texting daily
for 1 month containing a training text. During 1 and 2 months after intervention, all patients’
blood pressure will be measured, and then the questionnaire had been filled 2 months after
intervention, again.

Results: Systolic blood pressure mean decreased from 136.23 ± 15.91 to
121.70 ± 14.43 and diastolic blood pressure mean decreased from 91.95 ± 8.24 to 86.64 ± 7.86
in the intervention group according to analysis of variance through repeated measurement and is
significantly different in comparison with control group (P < 0.001). Compliance scale increased
from 72.95 ± 7.65 to 85.40 ± 5.62 based on dependent t‑test which was significantly different
with the control group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: SMS training would be an effective method to
control hypertension.

Keywords: Compliance, hypertension, short message service, training