The effectiveness of the WhatsApp-based self-care educational program on health-promoting behaviors in individuals with metabolic syndrome

Tayebeh Rakhshani; Ahmad Moradi; Sodabeh Qalavand; Leila Ghahremani; Mohammad Nikzadian; Maryam Nikbina

Tayebeh Rakhshani Department of Public Health, Nutrition Research Center, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Ahmad Moradi Student Research Committee, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sodabeh Qalavand Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Health Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Leila Ghahremani Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Health Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mohammad Nikzadian Department of Medical Emergencies, Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shoushtar, Iran
Maryam Nikbina Department of Midwifery, Shoushtar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Shoushtar, Iran

Keywords: metabolic syndrome, self-care, health-promoting behaviors

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Lifestyle modification and management of health-promoting behaviors (HPB) are the most important measures to control metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the WhatsApp-based self-care educational program on HPB in individuals with metabolic syndrome. The present study was a quasi-experimental performed on individuals with metabolic syndrome referred to comprehensive urban health centers in Iran. The samples consisted of 100 individuals with metabolic syndrome randomly assigned to either the experimental (n=50) or control (n=50) group. Data collection instruments included a demographic questionnaire and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) to determine health-promoting status behaviors. The control and experimental groups were similar in terms of the total mean scores of HPB before the intervention. However, after performing it, the total mean scores of the HPB scale and its subscales were statistically significant in the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, it was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.0001). The results of the present study showed the positive effect of educational intervention using WhatsApp messenger on the HPB of individuals with metabolic syndrome.