A pilot program at the worksite to reduce adverse self-medication behaviors

Patricia J Neafsey^1,2, Gregory Lutkus², Jessica Newcomb², Elizabeth Anderson^1,2

¹Center for Health Intervention and Prevention (CHIP); ²School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

Abstract: A Next Generation Personal Education Program (PEP-NG) that captures self-reported medication behaviors and delivers a tailored educational intervention on a touchscreen interface was piloted with 11 adults with hypertension, aged 45–60 years, in a worksite setting. A time series design with multiple institution of treatment (four visits over three months) was employed. Blood pressure (BP), self-medication behaviors, self-efficacy, and knowledge for avoiding adverse self-medication behaviors were assessed at each of four visits. Satisfaction was assessed once at visit 4. Measures pre-PEP (visit 1) to visit 4 were compared with paired t-tests. The adverse self-medication behavior risk score decreased significantly from visit 1 to visit 4 (p < 0.05) with a medium effect size. Both knowledge and self-efficacy for avoiding adverse self-medication behaviors increased significantly (p < 0.05) with large effect sizes. All six participants not at BP goal (<140/90 mmHg) on visit 1 were at goal by visit 4. User satisfaction was high as assessed by both quantitative measures and qualitative interviews. These positive results suggest the PEP could play a central role in worksite wellness programs aimed at workers with hypertension.

Keywords: hypertension, worksite, information technology, tailored intervention