Impact of nurse-initiated education on HeartScore in patients with hypertension: a randomised trial

Abstract

Background: People with hypertension experience significant damage to major organs due to insufficient management of cardiovascular risk factors. Aims: To assess the impact of nurse-led educational interventions on the total cardiovascular risk among people with hypertension. Method: the study was an interventional randomised study. The sample (n=92) was randomly assigned to the either the control or intervention group. The HeartScore tool was used to assess patients' total cardiovascular risk between December 2017 and March 2018. Findings: 56.6% of the control group and 55.4% of the intervention group were women, with a mean age of 64.4 years and 66.2 years respectively (P>0.05). Total cholesterol reduced in both groups; however, improvement was greater in the intervention group (P<0.05). Total cardiovascular risk fell in the intervention group from 4.75 to 4.33 (P>0.05), while the control group saw an increase in risk from 10.03 to 12.65 (P=0.035). Conclusion: Nurse-led educational interventions should be incorporated in the usual care of patients with hypertension, in order to achieve the best management of the condition.