Effects of a South Korean Community-Based Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program for Low-Income Elderly with Hypertension

Abstract

This study identified the effects of a community-based cardiovascular disease prevention program (CVD-PP) on health behavior and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in low-income Korean elderly with hypertension. Eighty-eight individuals completed the 3-month self-efficacy-enhancing interventions in which the control group received standard care. In the intervention group, there were statistically significant improvements in self-efficacy (t = 2.519, p = 0.016) and health behavior (t = 3.453, p = 0.001), and significant differences in diastolic blood pressure (t = -2.518, p = 0.018) between the two groups. This CVD-PP administered by visiting nurses may be effective in improving self-efficacy and health behavior and in reducing modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.