J Nurs Acad Soc.  1987 Dec;17(3):204-217.

A Study of the Effects of Health Contracting on Compliance with Health Behaviors in Clients with Hypertension

• Lee HY

Abstract

It is generally accepted that the delivery of health care is undergoing many changes specially those-related to acute, contagious disease care and to the-increase of chronic illnesses which can not be cured but are controlable. The health care practitioner can not be soley responsible for the control of their clients' care. Because the clients will play a vital role in controlling their illnesses, long term participation by both the health care provider and the client is necessary. Since most individuals with hypertension do not experience signs or symptoms, the disease is difficult to detect and even when diagnosed, clients do not comply well with their hypertension regimens. The noncompliant client is at increased risk for com-pliants involving the heart, brain, kidney and other organs. In an effort to explore methods of increasing-patient participation in and adherence to treatment programs for hypertension, the researcher used health contracting to promote self care. The research questions are; 1) Will the health contracting increase compliance in health behavior and reduce the blood pressure? 2) If clients comply-with their regimens will this reduce their blood pressure? The research design utilized in this study was a quasi-experimental design. A purposive sample, was abtained from two. churches in the J. area, consisting of 61 clients with hypertension. The data was collected from the middle of January to the 1st of September 1985. Randomization was only of the two church groups into experimental and control groups. Compliance with health behavior related to the hypertensive regimen, blood pressure and body weight were measured, compared and analyzed. In the experimental group measurements were made 6 times; one month before the education program after education program when health contracting was done and 4 more times once a month for 4 months. In the control group measurements were made 3 times; one month before the education program after the education program, and once 4 months later. There was no health contracting. The data were analyzed by t-test, Pearson correlation and ANOVA according to purpose of the study. The result of this study may be summarized as follows: The result related to the hypothesis on the effect of health contracting are as follows: H1; "The hypothesis that the experimental group, with a health contractual agreement will demonstrate increased compliance levels for health behavior than the control group" was supported(t=-5.29, df= 62, p=.000). H2; "The hypothesis that the experimental group, with a health contractual agreement, will demonstrate a greater reduction in blood pressure than the-control group" was supported (for systolic blood pressure t=2.72, df=62, p=.009, for diastolic blood pressure t-1. 65, df-62, p-. 050). H3; The hypothesis that the greater the compliance of the client with health behavior the lower the-client's blood pressure will be was partially supported (for systolic pressure r=-. 2981, p=.008, for diastolic pressure r=-.1720, p=. 087). From the examination of the results of this study it can be concluded that the interaction between the nurse and the client, contracting to define goals and reinforcing compliant behavior, leads to improved compliance with health care behaviors and thus to-an increase in the effectiveness of nursing care. Further consideration need to be given to the inclusion of the concept of health contracting in primary nursing and to further research in this area.

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Body Weight
Brain
Chronic Disease
Compliance*
Cooperative Behavior
Delivery of Health Care
Education
Health Behavior*
Health Personnel
Heart
Humans
Hypertension*
Kidney
Nursing Care
Primary Nursing
Random Allocation
Research Design
Self Care