A comparative study of self-care training based on VARK learning style and presentation method on blood pressure level of patients with hypertension

Background & Objective: Hypertension affects more than ۱.۲ million individuals around the world and has become the most critical and costly public health problem. After performing self-care interventions, blood pressure of patients with this disease can be significantly reduced. Adapting the training method to the individual learning style can be more effective on learning of patients and thus better controlling their blood pressure with more desired training effectiveness.The purpose of the present study was to compare self-care training based on VARK learning style and lecture method on blood pressure of patients with hypertension.Materials & Method: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on ۸۸ patients with hypertension referring to ۶ comprehensive health service centers in Bandar Abbas. The samples were selected by convenience method and randomly divided into two groups of n = ۴۴ of learning style-based training (including four groups of visual, auditory, reading / writing, and kinesthetic based on the results of VARK learning style questionnaire) and presentation. Data collection tools included demographic profile registration form, VARK learning style questionnaire, blood pressure measurement sheet. The training sessions were presented in the form of four sixty-minute sessions for the members of learning style-based training group based on their learning style and as a lecture for the members of lecture group. Before and after training, blood pressure was measured as a measure of the effectiveness of training on patient learning. The data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS version ۲۱.Findings: The results of the study showed no significant difference in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the training based on learning style and presentation groups before performing the intervention (p<۰.۰۵). but after the training intervention, a significant difference was observed in the mean difference before and after the intervention of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups (p<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: The results showed a more desired effect of self-care training method based on VARK learning style than the common method of lecturing to reduce the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of patients. Therefore, it is suggested to improve patients' learning of training content before performing training interventions, by determining learning style of patients using VARK learning style questionnaire and training media appropriate to each person's learning style during training.

کلیدواژه ها:

High blood pressure ، Learning ، Lectures ، Self-care ، Teaching methods