Chanjar Suntayakorn RN, PhD*, Wilaiporn Rojjanasrirat RNC, PhD, IBCLC**
Affiliation : * The Faculty of Nursing, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand ** School of Nursing, Graceland University, USA
Background : Unhealthy behaviors such as being overweight, have hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia increase the
risks of stroke. Promoting healthy behaviors could reduce the incidence of stroke, death, and disabilities. Empowerment
was used in this study to help people change their health behaviors.
Objective : To determine the effects of an empowerment program on health behaviors and stroke risk factors reduction of
people at-risk for stroke in a rural community in Thailand.
Material and Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in sixty participants identified with moderate risk for
stroke, according to the Standard Operation Procedure to Prevent and Control of Stroke 2007 of the Bureau of Non
Communicable Disease, from two villages in Phitsanulok. Participants were enrolled in experimental (n = 30) and control
(n = 30) groups using match pair for sex, age, blood pressure, and blood sugar. The experimental group received empowerment
based on the Gibson’s model of empowerment (discovering reality, critical reflection, taking charge, and holding on) at
week 1, 4, and 8 while the control group received routine care. The study duration was 12 weeks. Instruments used were a
questionnaire regarding health behaviors and a form for recording the BMI, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and
triglyceride. Data analyses included the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), repeated measure, and independent t-test.
Results : Following the implementation of the empowerment program, health behaviors of participants in the experimental
group were significantly better than those of the control group (p<0.001). Risk factors, body mass index, blood pressure,
blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride of participants in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in
the control group (p<0.01, p<0.001).
Conclusion : The empowerment program was effective in decreasing stroke risk behaviors and stroke risk factors. Future
research using this empowerment intervention program should be conducted in high cardiovascular risk group and patients
with other chronic diseases.
Keywords : Empowerment, Stroke, Risk factor, Community
JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND
4th Floor, Royal Golden Jubilee Building,
2 Soi Soonvijai, New Petchburi road,
Bangkok 10310, Thailand.
Phone: 0-2716-6102, 0-2716-6962
Fax: 0-2314-6305
Email: editor@jmatonline.com
» Online Submissions » Author Guidelines » Copyright Notice » Privacy Statement
» Journal Sponsorship » Site Map » About this Publishing System
© MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND. All Rights Reserved. The content of this site is intended for health professionals.