To be motivated or only comply – patients’ views of hypertension care after consultation training for nurses

Abstract

Objective:

This paper reports on patients’ perspectives on the nurse management of hypertension following consultation training, elicited as part of a randomised controlled study.

Method:

Telephone interviews were conducted with 16 patients in an intervention group (IG) and eight patients in a control group (CG), 3 years after nurses’ consultation training in primary health care. By means of a 3-day course, nurses were educated in patient centredness, Motivational Interviewing, the Stages of Change model, guidelines for cardiovascular prevention, lifestyle changes and pharmacological treatment. In addition, they took part in video-recorded consultation training with simulated patients. A specially designed educational booklet was developed for patients in the IG.

Results:

Of the 16 patients in the IG, 13 reported that their views and former experiences were taken into account and all eight patients in the CG reported the same. Patients in the IG reported that the nurse listened and they had been guided and motivated to perform lifestyle changes. The booklet in the IG was reported to have been read several times, but a few patients did not remember receiving it. There were more informed thoughts about how to manage lifestyle in the IG. Patients in the CG were less detailed in their descriptions.

Conclusion:

Patients in both IG and CG reported to have made efforts to change lifestyle, and patients in the IG reported that they had been coached and motivated by their nurses to do so.