Effectiveness of Combined Lecture and Small-Group Training on Blood Pressure Measurement Technique Among Community Volunteers

Hypertension is a major non-communicable disease, particularly challenging in regions with extensive service areas. Community health volunteers are essential for prevention and management through blood pressure measurement. Existing training programs focus primarily on knowledge, highlighting the need to integrate cognitive learning with small-group skills practice to enhance practical competencies and community-based hypertension control. A quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest design was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of combined lecture and small-group training. Knowledge was assessed before and after training, while skills were evaluated post-intervention. Thirty volunteers from the Public Health Center Selakau participated. The results showed that knowledge of blood pressure measurement improved significantly, with pretest scores of 74.67 ± 16.34 rising to posttest scores of 90.00 ± 10.50 (p < 0.005). Posttest evaluation of practical skills showed a mean score of 80.93 ± 13.35, indicating proficient performance in most assessed items. Combined lecture and small-group training effectively enhanced both knowledge and practical skills of community health volunteers in blood pressure measurement. Integrating cognitive learning with hands-on practice strengthens theoretical understanding and field competencies, supporting more effective community-based hypertension control programs.