A study of the effects of group discussion with male high school students on their parents’ hypertension control

Hypertension is one of the most important preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality in developed and developing countries. Raising family knowledge and involvement of family members in care delivery can help to promote positive hypertensive patient behaviors, such as appointment keeping, compliance with therapy, and better hypertension control. The present study seeks to assess the effect of group discussion with male high school students on their parents' hypertension control. This study is a quasi-experimental research. We selected 61 high school students who had parents with hypertension and divided them in intervention and control groups. We provided the intervention group with group discussion in several sessions. For four months, the blood pressure of the parents in intervention and control groups was measured weakly. Results of the data analysis demonstrated that systolic and diastolic blood pressures of parents in intervention and control groups reduced. Our findings also emphasized that rate of controlled hypertension in intervention and control group was42.5% and 16.7%, respectively (P<0.026). Consequently, education in form of group discussion with male high school students effectively leads to decrease and control of hypertension of their parents.