The effect of motivational interviews on cardiovascular disease risks and healthy lifestyle behavior changes in essential hypertension patients: A randomized controlled study

Aim: The primary aim of the study was to determine the effects of both methods on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks and healthy lifestyle behavioural changes in patients with essential hypertension (EH) by comparing "structured education according to the health belief model (HBM)" with "education and motivational interviews (MI)". Methods: Study was carried out in a single-centre, single-blind, parallel-group, randomized, controlled experimental design with a 6-month follow-up. Study was carried out on a total of 80 people (40 in study group, 40 in control group) aged 30-59 years, diagnosed with EH and with an estimated 10-year risk of Framingham CVD above 10%, at Işıklar Family Health Center in Eskişehir. Health education based on HBM and training booklet was applied to both groups, MIs were conducted with the study group once a month, a total of 6 times. Data were collected as pre-test, intermediate follow-up test (3 months), and post-test (6 months). Results: In the third and sixth month follow-ups of the study group, decrease in the 10-year Framingham CVD risk scores compared to the baseline values was higher than that of the control group. At the end of six-month follow-up period, the study group's CVD risk factors knowledge level increased, and healthy lifestyle behaviour changes developed. Conclusions: Both methods were successful. The SIM-based health education and training booklet, when applied alone or combined with MIs was an ideal approach to support patients diagnosed with EH with an estimated 10-year CVD risk ≥10% to change their cardiovascular risk through lifestyle changes.