ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine if individuals with hypertension who
received a Health Promotion Program exhibited higher self-efficacy, more health
promotion behaviors and had lower blood pressure measurements than individuals who
did not receive a Health Promotion Program. The Health Promotion Model provided the
study’s theoretical framework. Previous research demonstrated that self-efficacy is a
major predictor of health promoting behaviors.
A quasi-experimental exploratory pretest-posttest control design was utilized. The
Treatment Group received a Health Promotion Program one hour per week for four
weeks in addition to traditional medical care. The Control Group received traditional
medical care only. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, The General Self-
Efficacy Subscale, the Health Promoting Lifestyle II was used, including the six
subscales of Health Responsibility, Physical Activity, Nutrition, Spiritual Growth,
Internal Relations, and Stress Management were used at baseline, at the conclusion of the
Health Promotion Program or four weeks after baseline, and four weeks after the Health
Promotion Program or eight weeks post baseline. A pill count and blood pressure
measurements were also conducted at each data collection session.
The study sample consisted of 87 subjects completing baseline, 1st, and 2nd posttests
(Treatment Group = 52; Control = 35) and 104 completing baseline and 1st post test
only (Treatment = 58; Control Group = 46). The majority of subjects were elderly,
retired, married, Caucasion females. The significance level was alpha = .05. Statistically
significant differences within the Treatment Group for General Self-Efficacy, Health
Promotion Lifestyle, Health Responsibility, Physical Activity, Stress Management, and