[An experimental study on the development of a program for the promotion of compliance with sick role behavior in...

This experimental study was undertaken to gauge the possibility of application and extension of a program for hypertension care to be operated by Community Health Practitioners. Four community health posts were selected. Two places were experimental groups and the other two control groups. The study was carried out from April 1987 to March 1988. In this study the hypertensives were screened from a group of adults who were over 20 years old. The rate of prevalence was 10.7% in the experimental group, and 11.1% in the control group. The hypertension care program was composed of three parts: regular care by CHPs, reinforcement of education and family support for the changing of health beliefs. The data for this analysis is based on 109 the hypertensives, with 78 from the experimental group and 31 from the control group. After the program was completed, the results obtained were as follows: 1) Sick role behavior compliance in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group. 2) Blood pressures were decreased in both systolic and diastolic in the experimental group. Diastolic pressure was strikingly decreased from those of the control group and showed statistical significance (p less than 0.05). 3) In the experimental group, benefits, perceived family support and family support behavior were high, out benefits was significantly higher than those of the control group (p = 0.000). Sensitivity, seriousness and barriers were high in the control group, but not statistically significant. 4) In conclusion, it is revealed that hypertension care program developed in this study has an effect of decreasing blood pressure and promoting sick role behavior compliance.