AE KYUNG CHANG*, CYNTHIA FRITSCHI*,+ AND MI JA KIM*,+
*UIC College of Nursing, Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, Chicago, IL, USA; +UIC
College of Nursing, Offi ce of Global Health Leadership, Chicago, IL, USA
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a nurse-led empowerment-based intervention to that of standard
care on metabolic syndrome risk factors, self-management behaviors, and walking activity in Korean hypertensive
patients. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, patients participated in an experimental group (N = 30) or control
group (N = 22). The experimental group received eight weekly empowerment sessions, including lifestyle modifi cation
education, empowerment group discussions, and exercise training, while the control group received standard hypertension
care. Results: The experimental group had signifi cantly improved metabolic syndrome symptoms and prevalence, empowerment
scores, self-management behaviors, and walking (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest
that, in Korean hypertensive patients, empowerment interventions are more effective than standard care in improving
metabolic syndrome risk factors, empowerment, self-management behaviors, and walking.