Prevalence of End-Digit Preference in Recorded Blood Pressure By Nurses: a Comparison of Measurements Taken by Mercury and Electronic Blood Pressure-Measuring Devices
S. Afr. fam. pract. (2004, Online)
;
55(1): 73-77, 2013.
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1270009
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
When compared with the use of a mercury sphygmomanometer; the use of a validated digital blood pressure (BP) measuring device eliminates the risk of exposure to mercury. Digital devices are also associated with a lesser degree of end-digit preference (EDP). EDP refers to the occurrence of a particular end digit more frequently than would be expected through chance alone. There have been only a few reports from Africa on the occurrence of EDP in BP measurement. This study examined EDP in BP taken by nurses before and after the introduction of a digital BP-measuring device.Design:
The design was a retrospective study.Settings andsubjects:
We reviewed the BP readings of 458 patients who presented at the dedicated clinic for people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital; Osogbo; Nigeria; before and after the introduction of the digital BP-measuring device.Outcomemeasures:
The prevalence of end-digit zero of systolic and diastolic BP readings before and after the introduction of the digital device was compared using McNemar's test.Results:
There was a large and significant fall in end-digit zero when BP readings that were taken using the mercury and digital devices were compared (systolic 98.1 vs. 10.9 ; p-value 0.001; diastolic 97.1 vs. 14.9 ; p-value 0.001 (McNemar's test).Conclusion:
There was a significant reduction in the frequency of end-digit zero when BP was taken with the digital device rather than the mercury device. Regular training and certification of healthcare workers in BP measurement is recommended to ensure a high quality BP measurement standard
Full text:
Available
Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Blood Pressure
/
Blood Pressure Determination
/
Nurses
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Language:
English
Journal:
S. Afr. fam. pract. (2004, Online)
Year:
2013
Type:
Article
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