ABSTRACT
This quasi-experimental research aims at determining the effects of management for changing behavior of essential hypertensive elderly patients by using social support from patients’ family members, group process and Deming cycle (PDCA). Samples consisted of 71 essential hypertensive elderly patients whom were treated in an urban primary care unit, Nakhon Phanom Province. Thirty-five patients were assigned to an experimental group while 36 patients were assigned to a comparison group. They were selected by using specific criteria. Data were collected during February-April 2007 through interview schedule and blood pressure record from before and after experiment. Data were analyzed by percentage, mean, standard deviation, maximum, minimum, paired t-test and independent t-test. The results of the study revealed that the experimental group gained significantly more knowledge, taking the antihypertensive drug behavior and social support than before that of the comparison group at p \< 0.05. The experimental group had systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure lower than before and than that of the comparison group at p \< 0.05. The study concludes that using social support from patients’ family members, group process and quality management (PDCA) had improved knowledge, behavior of taking the antihypertensive drug and the controlling blood pressure.