Health education and exercise improve hypertension knowledge and skills among Jimbung Village residents

inggris

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hypertension remains a major public health problem in Indonesia, and community-based exercise interventions are considered an effective strategy for its control. This community service program aimed to improve community knowledge and skills in hypertension exercise as an effort to control hypertension in Jimbung Village, Kalikotes Subdistrict, Klaten Regency. The program was implemented using an educational-participatory approach, comprising health education on hypertension, blood pressure screening, demonstration and practice of hypertension exercise, health cadre empowerment, family education, and evaluation of participants' knowledge and skills. A total of 40 community members and 8 health cadres participated. Knowledge was assessed using a 15-item questionnaire before and after education, while exercise skills were evaluated using a seven-component checklist. The results showed that the mean knowledge score increased from 62.3 (pre-test) to 81.5 (post-test), a relative increase of 30.8%, exceeding the minimum target of 20%. In terms of skills, 35 participants (87.5%) met at least six of the seven exercise components, surpassing the 80% target. Blood pressure screening revealed a mean of 142.5/86.8 mmHg, with 8 participants (20.0%) requiring further follow-up. All cadres completed the training, with 87.5% able to convey key hypertension messages and 100% able to assist in mobilizing the exercise sessions. Participant satisfaction reached 97.5%, and 95.0% expressed willingness to continue routine exercise. These findings indicate that the educational-participatory approach effectively improved community knowledge and exercise skills related to hypertension control, with a sustainability plan established through routine exercise sessions led by trained health cadres.

KEYWORDS

hypertension; community exercise; health education; knowledge and skills; health cadre