title: An audit of the use of sphygmomanometers.
abstract: This survey assessed the measurement of blood pressure and use of sphygmomanometers by general practitioners in Humberside and Yorkshire in 1988. All registered practitioners were sent a questionnaire--1223 (58%) returned it completed. Their responses showed that 269 (22%) had an aneroid sphygmomanometer only, and that 120 (10%) had a random zero sphygmomanometer; 700 (57%) had special cuffs for obese patients, and 558 (46%) had special cuffs for children; 228 (23.5%) had never had their sphygmomanometers serviced ('never' corresponding to a mean time of 5.75 years), while 23% had patients who measured their own blood pressure. These findings suggest that the British Hypertension Society's recommendations on servicing and cuff use are not always applied. A formal audit of the use of different types of sphygmomanometer in general practice may encourage and improve accuracy and uniformity in blood pressure recording.
authors: Department of Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hussain
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Cox
mesh_terms: D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity