The Self Blood Pressure Measurement by Hypertensive Patients: a Patient Survey

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to compare the usual self-checked blood pressure measuring methods by hypertensive patients with standardized methods. METHODS: From May to August 2002, we surveyed 137 hypertensive patients who performed self blood pressure measurements with a self-administered questionnaire. We defined 14 standard methods from the six most frequently recommended guidelines. We asked patients how often they calibrated their sphygmomanometer, and how they learned to measure blood pressure. Also, their upper arm circumferences were measured. RESULTS: The percentage of correct preparations for BP measurement was over 80%, but that of correct technique was low. For example, 'reading from the arm with higher BP by more than 10 mmHg' (4.4%), 'placing midline of the bladder over the arterial pulsation' (21.5%), and 'waiting 2 or more minutes between readings' (21.9%). Only 11.2% of the patients have ever had calibrated their sphygmomanometers. In 20.2% of hypertensive subjects, upper arm circumferences were greater than 30 cm which made blood pressure measurement with a 24 cm-sized bladder incorrect. CONCLUSION: As shown in previous studies, the methods of blood pressure measurement were incorrect in many aspects. Therefore, systematically educating hypertensive patients to measure blood pressure by correct methods and recommending to use a proper-sized cuff are essential.

Accuracy Comparison of Blood Pressure among the Direct Measurement Method and Two Automatic Indirect Measurement Methods in the Patients with Various Blood Pressure / 기본간호학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in measurement methods for blood pressure (Direct measurement, HP automatic indirect measurement, and SE 7000 Korean made indirect measurement), and to evaluate the clinical trial of the Korean made automatic indirect blood pressure measurement. MATERIAL & METHODS: From June, 1999 to February, 2000, fifty five consecutive patients were randomized into hypertension group (n=20), normotension group (n=20), and hypotension group (n=15). Measuring blood pressure by indirect methods (HP NIBP M 1008B and SE 7000 NIBP Korean made) was done simultaneously in the same arm with arterial line for direct blood pressure measurement (HP M1006A). The procedures were repeated ten times at intervals of 2 minutes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 8.0 for windows) software package. Values were expressed as means and standard deviation and means were compared using t-test. Statistical significance was considered present with a p value less than 0.05. RESULTS: In the hypertension group and noromotension group, the disparity between HP direct measurement and indirect SE 7000 NIBP did not show any differences compared to the disparity between HP direct measurement and indirect HP NIBP. In the hypotension group, the disparity in the diastolic pressure between HP direct measurement and indirect SE 7000 NIBP was significantly different compared to the disparity between HP direct measurement and indirect HP NIBP (p<0.001), however, disparities in systolic pressure did not showed any differences. CONCLUSION: Direct blood pressure measurement (HP M1006A) can be replaced with indirect blood pressure measurements (HP NIBP M 1008B & SE 7000 NIBP) in normotension and hypertension patients. Korean made indirect measurement was found to be more accurate compared to HP indirect measurement in hypotension patients, but more study is needed.