title: [Performing self-measurement of blood pressure: a patient survey].
abstract: In the present study the knowledge of 200 patients of our hypertension clinic about the technique of blood-pressure self-measurement was investigated using a questionnaire of 22 questions. 44-66% of the patients in different age groups measured their own blood-pressure, showing that self-measurement is commonly used, regardless of the age. 73% of the patients had bought a device on their own, but only 17% on the physician's advice. Possible causes for erroneous measurements were rarely known and underestimated by the patients. Due to lacking or insufficient instruction a relatively high percentage of the patients did not perform correct measurements. 45% did not measure the blood-pressure at the same time of day, 45% did not read systolic and diastolic pressures to the nearest 2 mmHg mark of the manometer scale, 59% did not count the pulse rate and 52% did not document the blood-pressure values. About half of the patients adjusted their medication on the ground of self-measured blood-pressure determinations. 45% of the elderly patients felt that their compliance had improved by self-measurement in contrast to 17% in the younger group. Given the increasing use of blood-pressure self-measurement we conclude that education of patients and physicians on possibilities and limitations of self-measurement as well as optimal training in the correct technique seem advisable.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Poliklinik, Universitätsspital, Departement für Innere Medizin, Zürich.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jeck
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mengden
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vetter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
vernacular_title: Umgang mit der Blutdruck-selbstmessung: eine Patientenumfrage.