Impact of Compliance to DASH Teaching Dietary Guidelines on Hypertension and Dietary Knowledge among Egyptian Sample

Elevated blood pressure remains an extraordinarily common and important risk factor for cardiovascular. DASH diet encourages reducing the sodium in diet and eating a variety of foods rich in nutrients that help lower blood pressure, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of compliance to DASH teaching dietary guidelines on blood pressure and dietary knowledge among Egyptian sample.Quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. Convenience sample of 90 adult male and female patients were recruited to the study. Four tools were formulated to collect data pertinent to the study: (1) Socio-Demographic data;(2) Nutritional Assessment (3); Nutrition knowledge questionnaire, and (4); DASH Adherence Score. The study finding revealed that the total dietary knowledge post- test mean score for DASH was greater than control group (25±2.8), and (13.44±2.6) respectively. The study results decumented reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among the DASH group(5-13 mmhg, 3-7mmhg)respectively. Also,there was a reduction in blood pressure among Control group(1-3mmhg in diastole,1-5 mmhg in systole) respectively. The study finding showed that there was gradual increase in the total dietary compliance mean score during the frist, second and the fourth week among DASH group(3.47±.17, 6.04±.21, and 8.22±.17) respectively in comparsion to control group(3.04±.16, 5.07±.22, and 4.8±.21) respectively. Also, there was also statistically significant differences put into evidence among the DASH and control at (F=1 311.06*, and at p=.000).Conclusion: we can conclude that, patients exposed to the DASH teaching dietary guidelines showed improvement in their conditions. This improvement was manifested by increased DASH Adherence Score, Nutrition knowledge score, and reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure within four weeks among the pre-hypertensive and stage 1 hypertension among Egyptian sample respectively. The study recommended that DASH diet eating pattern should be a central pillar in teaching pre-hypertensive adults to maintain hypertension control. Additional research is required to investigate the effect dietary fiber intake, and behavioral eating pattern among hypertensive Egyptian people. Keywords: DASH diet, Knowledge, Compliance, Hypertension