Tele-nursing versus Routine Outpatient Teaching for Improving Arterial Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index for Hypertensive Patients

Background: Tele-nursing refers to the use of phone conversation and information technology to provide nursing care at a distance to help solve increasing shortages of nurses and to always keep patient in touch when they are out of hospital with best possible positive outcome. It is especially useful for hypertensive patients who have problems of far distance from health care clinics or have to wait a long time for visiting a doctor. Aim of the study: to examine the effect of telenursing versus routine outpatient teaching on improving the levels of arterial blood pressure and body mass index of hypertensive patients. Design: A quasi experimental design (study/control) was utilized. Setting: This study was conducted on the medical out-patients department-Menoufia University Hospital, Egypt. Sample: A convenient sample of 100 subjects, who attend the outpatient clinics of the aforementioned setting. The subjects were divided equally into study and control groups, 50 subjects each. The study group (telenursing intervention) was followed by follow-up phone calls throughout the period of the study. Instruments:- 1. Structured interviewing questionnaire and 2. Bio-physiological measurements including anthropometrics; height, weight, body mass index and blood pressure. Results: There were statically significant differences between both groups regarding mean arterial blood pressure scores after telenursing intervention. The mean level of arterial blood pressure & BMI was significantly lower in the study group than the control after intervention (p < 0.05 & P < 0.05) respectively. Conclusions: telenursing is an effective strategy for improving arterial blood pressure, body mass index and decreasing the risk of its complications. Tele-nursing could be a promising solution for management of hypertension as a chronic disease. Implication: apply tele-nursing via follow up phone services to improve patient’s adherence to a healthy regimen.