OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese food therapy in correcting the Yin-deficiency and to examine its impact on the patients' quality of life and hypertension control. BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have shown 14-50% of people with hypertension have Yin-deficiency. Whether restoring the Yin-Yang balance by means of Chinese food therapy can help to better manage patients with hypertension has yet to be examined. DESIGN: Two groups randomised controlled trial. METHODS:Eighty-five hypertensive patients recruited from two community health service centre were divided into two groups. The intervention group (n = 48) received specific dietary instructions and corresponding management of their antihypertensive medication if indicated and brief health education, whilst the control group (n = 37) received routine support involving only brief health education. Data were collected at baseline, after intervention at four, eight, 12 and 16 weeks follow-up. Comparisons were made to examine the effects of Chinese food therapy on Yin-deficiency symptoms, blood pressure and quality of life of hypertensive patients. RESULTS: The intervention group had reduction in the numbers of antihypertensive medication taken as well as improvement in most of the Yin-deficiency symptoms after 12 weeks of Chinese food therapy and mean scores of several SF-36 dimensions were higher than that of in the control group after 12 and 16 weeks follow-up. Significant difference was found in systolic blood pressure in the intervention group when it was compared from baseline to after four and eight weeks respectively. CONCLUSION: Chinese Food Therapy can restore body constitution with Yin-Yang imbalance and may potentially improve hypertensive patients' quality of life. It is also beneficial in controlling blood pressure in hypertensive patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Chinese food therapy may become a complementary therapy in health care and it should be a component of nursing education and health education.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese food therapy in correcting the Yin-deficiency and to examine its impact on the patients' quality of life and hypertension control. BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have shown 14-50% of people with hypertension have Yin-deficiency. Whether restoring the Yin-Yang balance by means of Chinese food therapy can help to better manage patients with hypertension has yet to be examined. DESIGN: Two groups randomised controlled trial. METHODS: Eighty-five hypertensivepatients recruited from two community health service centre were divided into two groups. The intervention group (n = 48) received specific dietary instructions and corresponding management of their antihypertensive medication if indicated and brief health education, whilst the control group (n = 37) received routine support involving only brief health education. Data were collected at baseline, after intervention at four, eight, 12 and 16 weeks follow-up. Comparisons were made to examine the effects of Chinese food therapy on Yin-deficiency symptoms, blood pressure and quality of life of hypertensivepatients. RESULTS: The intervention group had reduction in the numbers of antihypertensive medication taken as well as improvement in most of the Yin-deficiency symptoms after 12 weeks of Chinese food therapy and mean scores of several SF-36 dimensions were higher than that of in the control group after 12 and 16 weeks follow-up. Significant difference was found in systolic blood pressure in the intervention group when it was compared from baseline to after four and eight weeks respectively. CONCLUSION: Chinese Food Therapy can restore body constitution with Yin-Yang imbalance and may potentially improve hypertensivepatients' quality of life. It is also beneficial in controlling blood pressure in hypertensivepatients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Chinese food therapy may become a complementary therapy in health care and it should be a component of nursing education and health education.
Authors: Evelyn Y Ho; Joseph Acquah; Cewin Chao; Genevieve Leung; Don C Ng; Maria T Chao; Abby Wang; Shannon Ku; Wanyi Chen; Choi Kwun Yu; Shuwen Xu; Melissa Chen; Jane Jih Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2018-08-09