NERS NEWS — Undergraduate Nursing students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, conducted a Project-Based Learning (PjBL) activity focusing on the prevention and management of hypertension among older adults at the RW 06 Community Hall in Sutorejo, Surabaya. The program aimed to improve community knowledge, particularly among the elderly and their families, regarding hypertension as a silent killer, its risk factors, signs and symptoms, complications, and strategies for preventing and managing hypertension through healthy lifestyle practices and complementary therapy.
The health education session was delivered through lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and interactive question-and-answer sessions using educational leaflets and PowerPoint presentations. The topics covered included the definition of hypertension, blood pressure classification, modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, physiological changes associated with aging, signs and symptoms of hypertension, potential complications resulting from uncontrolled blood pressure, and preventive measures such as adopting a low-sodium diet, engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress, quitting smoking, monitoring blood pressure routinely, and adhering to prescribed treatment. Participants also received education on the important role of family support in managing hypertension among older adults.
As part of the promotive and preventive health education, the students also introduced complementary therapies that can be used alongside medical treatment, namely hypertension exercise and cucumber juice. Participants learned about the benefits of hypertension exercise in maintaining physical fitness and helping lower blood pressure when performed regularly, as well as the potential benefits of cucumber juice, which is rich in potassium and may help control blood pressure when incorporated into a healthy lifestyle. The students also demonstrated simple hypertension exercises that older adults could safely practice independently at home according to their physical abilities.
This activity was carried out by Group 1, Class A3, Cohort 2023, Undergraduate Nursing Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, as part of the Family Nursing, Gerontological Nursing, and Complementary Nursing Project-Based Learning program at the RW 06 Community Hall in Sutorejo, Surabaya. Throughout the activity, participants showed great enthusiasm by actively asking questions about monitoring blood pressure at home, recommended dietary patterns for people with hypertension, the benefits of hypertension exercise, and the safety of using complementary therapies alongside antihypertensive medications prescribed by healthcare professionals.
The program aimed to improve public health literacy regarding the importance of early detection, risk factor management, and healthy lifestyle practices to prevent hypertension-related complications. By increasing community knowledge and strengthening family support, the program is expected to improve treatment adherence and healthy behaviors, thereby reducing the risk of complications such as stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, and vascular disorders. “Through this activity, we hope students not only learn in the classroom but also directly apply their nursing knowledge to the community through promotive and preventive efforts. We also hope this program contributes to improving the quality of life of the community, particularly older adults,” said Prof. Ferry, the faculty facilitator for the Group 1 Class A3 Project-Based Learning program.
The implementation of this Project-Based Learning program supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) through the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the provision of quality health education for the community, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration between the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, and RW 06 Sutorejo, Surabaya, in improving community health.
It is hoped that similar educational initiatives will continue to be implemented on a sustainable basis, increasing public awareness of the importance of maintaining controlled blood pressure, adopting healthy lifestyles, and utilizing healthcare services optimally to prevent hypertension-related complications.
Writer: Nafisa Dwi Agustina
