Effectiveness of Telenursing on Self-Care and Blood Pressure Control in Adults With Hypertension

Effectiveness of Telenursing in Improving Self-Care and Blood Pressure Control Among Adults With Chronic Hypertension: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Türkiye

This quasi-experimental study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured telenursing program in improving self-care practices and blood pressure control among adults with chronic hypertension in Türkiye. Participants received weekly telephone-based nursing counseling for eight weeks, focusing on medication adherence, healthy nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and regular self-monitoring. The study compares changes in blood pressure and self-care scores between the intervention and control groups.

Hypertension remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, significantly contributing to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in pharmacological treatment, non-pharmacological support and patient self-care play a crucial role in achieving optimal blood pressure control. This study was designed as a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest controlled trial to test whether a structured telenursing intervention improves self-care behaviors and blood pressure outcomes in adults with chronic hypertension.

The study was conducted at Ağrı Training and Research Hospital in Türkiye between March 2024 and March 2025. A total of 151 participants aged 30-75 years were recruited and assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received weekly telephone-based nursing counseling sessions delivered by trained nurses for eight consecutive weeks. Counseling covered key self-care topics including medication adherence, dietary modifications, physical activity, stress reduction, and blood pressure self-monitoring. The control group received usual care.

Primary outcomes included changes in systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure. Secondary outcomes included changes in self-efficacy and self-care practices measured by the Hypertension Self-Care Profile (HTN-SCP). Ethical approval was obtained from Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University Scientific Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: E102912). Official permission for implementation was provided by the Ağrı Provincial Directorate of Health (Approval No: E24156). The study was supported by TÜBİTAK (Project No: 919B012319310). Findings from this study aim to support the use of telenursing as a cost-effective digital health strategy for chronic disease management in resource-limited settings.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with chronic hypertension for at least 1 year.
• Aged between 30 and 75 years.
• Able to communicate via telephone.
• Provided informed consent to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with severe comorbid conditions (e.g., advanced heart failure, cancer).
• Cognitive impairment that prevents communication.
• Hearing impairment that prevents phone counseling.
• Participation in another hypertension intervention program within the last 6 months.