Interactive Training and Education Improves Basic Hypertension Knowledge of Woman Cadres in Surabaya

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of premature death and disability. Interactive education and training are potentially used to improve hypertension knowledge. AIM: This study aimed to identify the impact of training and education programs toward knowledge in hypertension for women cadres. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in Surabaya, Indonesia, involving 100 women cadre. The data were collected through interviews, pre- and post-training using a validated researcher-made questionnaire of demographic characteristics, and knowledge tests of hypertension. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Knowledge of cadre was significantly increased by 50% after the training and education program (p < 0.001). The median score of the pre-test and post-test was 40.00 (30.00–50.00) and 60.00 (50.00–70.00), respectively. The level of education found to have a negative correlation with the post-test score (p = 0.008). There was no difference in knowledge increment after training among age groups (p = 0.261), marital status (p = 0.849), or occupations type (p = 0.827). CONCLUSION: Training and education programs significantly improve the hypertension knowledge of woman cadre. This method can be a preferable early public health intervention to tackle hypertension.