Written Behavioural Persuasion Technique Intervention for Hypertension Management

Effectiveness of Written Behavioural Persuasion Technique Intervention for Hypertension Management Among The Untreated Hypertension Population of The Community Observatory in Segamat, Johor: a 2-arm Randomised Controlled Trial Within Cohort

This study aims to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of written behavioural persuasion techniques intervention to encourage treatment initiation and follow-up for hypertension management among the untreated hypertension population of the SEACO cohort.

Each household is given a unique identifier called house_id in the SEACO database. The randomisation will be computer-generated according to their house_id with a ratio of 1:1. During the house visit, participants' blood pressure will be taken three times, and the final reading will be the average of the second and third readings. Participants will be assessed based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, i.e., age 35 years and above, blood pressure reading and reported not being diagnosed with or treated for hypertension. At the end of the house visit, all participants will receive a standard referral leaflet, and participants randomised to the intervention group will receive an additional written behavioural persuasion leaflet.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 35 and above
• Systolic blood pressure equal to or more than 140 mmHg
• Diastolic blood pressure equal to or more than 90 mmHg
• reported not being diagnosed with hypertension OR not being treated for hypertension

Exclusion Criteria:

• Involve in other research projects
• decline to participate/reject