WhatsApp-Facilitated Empowerment of Health Cadres to Improve Knowledge and Blood Pressure Control among Adults with Hypertension: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Maitha Annthonette Wulan Keloay (Poltekkes Kemenkes Manado)
Ni Luh Jayanthi Desyani (Poltekkes Kemenkes Manado)
Rommy David Watuseke (Poltekkes Kemenkes Manado)
Semuel Tambuwun (Poltekkes Kemenkes Manado)
Ellen Pesak (Poltekkes Kemenkes Manado)
Ferry Efendi (Universitas Airlangga)

Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research
Vol. 8 No. 5 (2026): Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research

Hypertension constitutes a major public health concern and serves as a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, renal failure, and premature mortality. Successful hypertension control necessitates a comprehensive approach that relies not only on pharmacological therapy but also on enhancing patient health literacy. The sustainable empowerment of health cadres through WhatsApp-based education represents an effective strategy for improving patient knowledge, thereby promoting behavioral change and enhancing blood pressure control. To analyze the effect of health cadre empowerment via WhatsApp on the level of knowledge and hypertension control. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group approach. Data were collected using a purposive sampling method with specified inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 60 respondents were involved, consisting of a control group (n = 30) and an experimental group (n = 30). Knowledge levels and blood pressure were assessed in both groups at baseline and following the intervention. To evaluate the intervention effect, the pre-post change scores of both groups were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The significance level was set at p < 0.05 for all analyses. Prior to the intervention, the majority of respondents in the control group (73.3%) and the experimental group (60.0%) had a sufficient level of knowledge. Following the intervention, all respondents in the experimental group (100%) achieved a good level of knowledge. The mean reduction in systolic blood pressure was (Δ = 14.10 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure decreased by (Δ = 5.3 mmHg). The Wilcoxon test results indicated a significant difference between blood pressure before and after the intervention, both for systolic (Z = -4.813; p < 0.001) and diastolic (Z = -4.489; p < 0.001) measurements. The empowerment of health cadres through WhatsApp-based health education is effective in improving knowledge and reducing blood pressure among hypertensive patients.