Effect of DASH Diet Nutrition Education through Leaflet Media on Dietary Adherence

Abstract

Hypertension is a major public health concern and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Along with pharmacological management, lifestyle modification—especially dietary intervention—plays a crucial role in controlling blood pressure. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is a scientifically recommended dietary pattern shown to reduce blood pressure; however, adherence to this diet remains low in community settings due to limited awareness and practical guidance. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of DASH diet nutrition education delivered through leaflet media on dietary adherence among hypertensive patients in a selected community area of Gurugram, Haryana. A quantitative quasi-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test design was adopted. Sixty hypertensive patients aged 30–65 years were selected using purposive sampling. Baseline data on socio-demographic variables, DASH diet knowledge, and dietary adherence were collected using validated structured questionnaires and adherence checklists. The intervention consisted of nutrition education on the DASH diet provided through simple, culturally appropriate leaflet media explaining recommended food groups, portion sizes, and sodium restriction. Post-intervention assessment was conducted following the educational program. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The findings demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in both knowledge and dietary adherence after the intervention. The mean DASH diet knowledge score increased from 1.92 ± 0.83 at baseline to 3.46 ± 1.22 post-intervention (p < 0.001). Similarly, the mean DASH diet adherence score improved from 19.28 ± 4.60 to 34.06 ± 6.10 (p < 0.001). Improvements were observed across age groups, genders, and educational levels, indicating the broad effectiveness of the intervention. The study concludes that leaflet-based DASH diet nutrition education is a simple, cost-effective, and practical strategy to improve dietary adherence among hypertensive patients in community settings. Integrating such interventions into routine community health and nursing practices may promote sustainable lifestyle changes and strengthen hypertension management.

KEYWORDS

Hypertension; DASH diet; Nutrition education; Leaflet-based intervention; Dietary adherence; Community-based study; Lifestyle modification.