Objective: To evaluate the intervention effect of health education on hypertension knowledge in mid-western rural area of Shandong province.
Methods: A project was launched on chronic disease control in mid-western rural area of Shandong province from 2007 to 2010. The baseline survey was performed using multi-stage random sampling method in 8 counties of mid-western rural area of Shandong province in April, 2007. A total of 20 087 participants aged 25 and above were recruited in the survey to study the relationship between awareness of hypertension and diet, smoking, obesity. Health education focusing on balance diet, physical activity promotion and tobacco control was performed among intervention population. The final evaluation survey using same questionnaire was performed in 2010, classified in intervention (4071 participants) and control (2145 participants) group. Control group was selected from non-intervention town in same county. Intervention and control group shared the same baseline data in 2007 for evaluation. By comparing the changes of hypertension knowledge before and after intervention, the intervention effect was evaluated.
Results: Awareness of the relationship between hypertension and diet rose from 34.0% (6830/20 087) at baseline in 2007 to 69.3% (2821/4071) (χ(2) = 1757.30, P < 0.01) of intervention group and 44.8% (961/2145) (χ(2) = 99.30, P < 0.01) of control group in 2010. Awareness of hypertension associated to smoking rose from 25.6% (5142/20 087) at baseline in 2007 to 55.2% (2247/4071) (χ(2) = 1396.59, P < 0.01) in intervention group, 30.9% (662/2145) (χ(2) = 27.83, P < 0.01) in control group in 2010. Awareness of hypertension related to obesity rose from 37.2% (7472/20 087) of the baseline in 2007 to 68.3% (2780/4071) (χ(2) = 1339.27, P < 0.01) in intervention group, 45.1% (967/2145) (χ(2) = 51.14, P < 0.01) in control group in 2010.
Conclusion: Community comprehensive intervention showed significant effects on hypertension related knowledge improvement in mid-western rural area of Shandong province.