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.
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