The Effect of Change Stage-Based Physical Activity Counseling on Physically Inactive Individuals With Hypertension

Hypertension (HT) is the second most common disease in Turkey and its prevalence is between 30-35%. Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors can contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases by preserving well-being. However, it has been determined that the control and protection behaviors of HT patients are inadequate. Guidelines for preventing HT recommend weight loss, healthy nutrition, increased physical activity and reduced alcohol consumption. Obesity and lifestyle changes can reduce blood pressure by 5 mmHg. Practices such as not smoking, physical activity (150 minutes per week), Mediterranean diet and alcohol restriction reduce the risk of HT by 50%. The World Health Organization emphasizes that regular physical activity is important in preventing death and disability. In a study in Turkey involving 15,468 adults, it was determined that only 3.5% of them do regular physical activity. According to the National Household Survey, 20.32% of individuals are sedentary and 15.99% do insufficient physical activity. Despite the abundance of information on the health benefits of physical activity, the question of why adults do not engage in enough physical activity is important. Research is insufficient for physical activity knowledge and behavior change in individuals. Physical activity increase interventions based on theories such as the Transtheoretical Model (TM) are effective for behavior change. TM includes elements such as stages of change, self-efficacy, and decision-making balance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of individual physical activity counseling based on the stage of change in physically inactive hypertensive individuals on physical activity levels and the perceived benefits and barriers of individuals' participation in physical activity.