Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of social support revealed in the time duration of sick role behavior compliance on the patients with hypertension using Quasi- experimental research design. Data collection was made through the interview survey technique from the hypertensive patients who received social support intervention (experimental group, n=41) and from those who were not exposed to the intervention(control group, n= 34). The subjects were registered in the cardiovascular outpatient clinic at the Chonnam National University Hospital from June 3, 1996 to November 30, 1997. X2-test or t- test, Repeated measures ANOVA were utilized in the data analysis. The results were as follows: 1. The effect of social support intervention on sick role behavior compliance was significant in 1 month(F=69.17, p=.000), 6 months (F=11.51, p=.001), and 12 months(F=.07, p=.789) and between two groups(1 month; F=153.70, p=.000, 6 months; F=13.94, p=.000, 12 months; F=6.72, p= .011). 2. The effect of social support intervention on blood pressure was not significant through all the periods of time (F=1.21, p=.274) between the two groups(F=.12, p=.732). In conclusion, it was showed that social support had an effect on sick role behavior compliance and the effect of social support continued for twelve months(F= 10.03, p=.002) However, the score of compliance tends to decrease after 6 months of intervention. Therefore, this study indicated that social support re-intervention would be needed between six and twelve months.

• Keywords: Social Support; Sick Role Behavior; Hypertensive Clients