Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background & Aim : Hypertension is the most important factor in cardiovascular diseases which can be modified, and motivational interviewing is an inspiring intervention for encouraging positive health behavior in the field of changing and modifying health behavior. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of motivational interviewing on the lifestyle of people suffering from hypertension.

  Patients and Method: This quasi-experimental study involved pre-test and post-test with a control group at different intervals. The subjects were 61 clients suffering from systolic blood pressure from 125 to 160 mm Hg. They had been referred to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences to participate in a project for screening diabetes and metabolic syndrome in 2009. The subjects were selected by random sampling and were randomly classified into the experimental group (No.=28) and the control group (No.=33). The intervention consisting of five sessions of group motivational interviewing and common lifestyle training was given to the experimental group. The data obtained by food habits questionnaire, 8 and 18 weeks after intervention, was analyzed by the statistical tests of covariance analysis and independent t-test.

  Results: After the intervention, the means of consuming unsaturated oil and white meat (P=0.005), vegetables (P=0.01), weight (P=0.006), dairy products (P=0.0001), salt (P=0.0001) and physical activity (P=0.0001) were significantly more in the experimental group than in the control group. Comparing means in the follow-up stage including 16 sessions revealed that some changes which occurred as a result of motivational interview such as vegetables, dairy products and salt still remained.

  Conclusion: Including motivational interview in healthy lifestyle training for controlling and preventing hypertension is an effective way for lifestyle improvement and consequently decreasing dangerous factors in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension.