Poster Presentation
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
This presentation is part of : Poster Presentations I
Efficacy of Direct Blood Pressure Biofeedback for Individuals with Mild Hypertension
Pei-Shan Tsai, PhD, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan and Mei-Yeh Wang, MSN, School of Nursing, Cardinal Tien College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan.
Learning Objective #1: acquire evidence-based information on the efficacy of direct blood pressure biofeedback for hypertension.
Learning Objective #2: have an understanding of the strategies used to test the mechanism of biofeedback.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine whether a 4-week BP biofeedback program can reduce BP and BP reactivity to stress in participants with stage 1 hypertension. Specifically, we tested whether BP biofeedback exerts a specific treatment effect other than a generalized relaxation effect that may be induced simply by regularly visiting a therapist. Methods: A total of 38 subjects consented to participate in this study and were randomized to the experimental biofeedback group (n = 19) and the placebo biofeedback group (n = 19). Participants in the experimental group were trained in 4 weekly laboratory sessions to self-regulate their BP with continuous BP feedback signals while participants in the placebo group was told to manipulate their BP without feedback signals. Baseline measurements including BP, body weight (BW), state anxiety, skin conductance, BP reactivity to stress, and heart rate variability were assessed on week 1 before training. Eight weeks following the training period (week 12 follow-up) all participants were tested again. Results: The decrease in SBP from baseline at week 12 follow-up was significantly larger in the experimental biofeedback group as compared with the placebo group (95% CI = 2.1 – 12.7, p = 0.011). Analysis of covariance with the follow-up SBP as the dependent variable, baseline SBP as the covariate and group as the independent variable showed that biofeedback training significantly lower SBP (β= -5.57, 95% CI = -10.019 – -1.980, p = 0.047). The pre-to-post differences in skin conductance and SBP reactivity were significant for the experimental group but not for the placebo control group. For the sample as a whole and for the experimental group, state anxiety score and BW remained unchanged at follow-up. Conclusions: Direct BP biofeedback is effective in reducing BP in individuals with mild hypertension, possibly through reducing reactivity to stress.

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