Consultation training of nurses for cardiovascular prevention – A randomized study of 2 years duration

Abstract

The aim of this study was to increase patients’ adherence to the treatment of hypertension through the consultation training of nurses. Thirty-three nurses were included in the study. In the intervention group (IG), 19 nurses took part in a 3-day residential training course on the Stages of Change model, Motivational Interviewing and guidelines for cardiovascular prevention, and recruited 153 patients. Sixteen nurses in the control group (CG) recruited 59 patients. A decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and total cholesterol was noticed in both groups over the 2 years. Heart rate (p = 0.027), body mass index (p = 0.019), weight (p = 0.0001), waist (p = 0.041), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p = 0.0001), the waist–hip ratio (p = 0.024), and perceived stress (p = 0.001) decreased to any great extent only in the IG. After 2 years, 52.6% of the patients in the IG (p = 0.13) reached the target of ≤ 140/90 mmHg in blood pressure compared with 39.2% in the CG. For self-reported physical activity, there was a significant (p = 0.021) difference between the groups. The beneficial effects of the consultation training on patients’ weight parameters, physical activity, perceived stress and the proportion of patients who achieved blood pressure control emphasize consultation training and the use of behavioural models in motivating patients to adhere to treatment.

Key Words::

• education
• hypertension
• nursing
• models theoretical
• patient compliance
• referral and consultation

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank Inger Norvinsdotter Borg for co-ordinating the activities on the residential courses and all participating nurses and patients.

Funding

This work has been supported by the Swedish Research Council (K2003 - 27VX-14636 - 01A), the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation, Pfizer AB, the Swedish Society of Hypertension and Institute of Health and Care Sciences, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.