Objective: To evaluate the benefits of using computer-based interventions to provide patient education to individuals with hypertension.
Methods: MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, ERIC, EMBASE, and PsychINFO were searched from 1995 to April 2009 using keywords related to computers, hypertension , education, and clinical trial. Additional studies were included from the Cochrane Library and hand-searching of the references.
Results: The search strategy identified 776 articles, of which 10 met the selection criteria. These 10 articles represented 5 unique projects. Two studies were software-based and three used the internet. Studies assessed the effect of computer-based interventions on knowledge, self-efficacy, self-care behaviours, and percentage of patients with blood pressure control. No study was able to demonstrate that a computer-based intervention was sufficient to result in permanent changes in health behaviours, although intermediate health outcomes such as knowledge and self-efficacy were improved.
Conclusion: Computer-based interventions can be an effective means of changing certain health behaviours, but current research shows that these interventions must be used in concert with provider-based health education in order to create lasting changes in health behaviours. In order for the full benefits of computer-based interventions to be realized, these programmes must be fully integrated into general healthcare delivery.
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