Assessment of the techniques of blood pressure measurement by health professionals

• Main Authors: Veiga Eugenia Velludo, Nogueira Maria Suely, Cárnio Evelin Capellari, Marques Sueli, Lavrador Marco Aurélio S., Moraes Suzana Alves de, Souza Luciana A. C., Lima Nereida K. C., Nobre Fernando
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC) 2003-01-01
• Series: Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia
• Subjects: blood pressure; blood pressure measurement; methods of blood pressure measurement
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0066-782X2003000100008
• ISSN: 0066-782X; 1678-4170

OBJECTIVE: To assess blood pressure measurement by health professionals of a public hospital in São Paulo State. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews and direct observation were performed with a verification list according to the criteria reported by Perloff et al. One hundred and five health professionals took part in the study. After measuring blood pressure, the level of concordance between the way the procedure was performed and the recommended one was assessed. RESULTS: Nurses and nurse's aides abided by 40% of the recommended procedures for adequate blood pressure measurement. The other categories of health professionals (nursing and medicine teachers, physicians, residents, and nursing students) abided by approximately 70%. CONCLUSION: Permanent educational activities aiming at standardizing blood pressure measurement should be implemented among the different categories of health professionals.