Blood Pressure Measurement Education and Evaluation Program improves measurement accuracy in community-based nurses: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Pilot study was developed to determine if a blood pressure measurement training program would improve guideline knowledge and technique in community-based nurses (n= 6).


METHODS
American Heart Association guidelines were used to develop the Blood Pressure Measurement Education and Evaluation Program (BEEP). Data on guideline knowledge, device quality, measurement technique, terminal digit bias, range of error, and attitude of change were collected prior and after BEEP.


CONCLUSIONS
BEEP development was feasible and acceptable. The device score was 100%. Knowledge improved but not statistically significant (p= 0.64), as did terminal digit bias. Technique prior to BEEP was poor (T= 15) but improved significantly after BEEP (T= 26 on a scale of 32, p= 0.0006). Range of error decreased but was only significant in the diastolic pressure (p= 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
BEEP is feasible. Baseline blood pressure measurement technique is poor in community-based nurses. Our study suggests that this poor technique can benefit from an educational program and result in improved blood pressure measurement accuracy.
Dickson
Brandy K
BK
Center for Senior Hypertension, Palmetto Health and University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA. stobra7@yahoo.com
Hajjar
Ihab
I
D000328:Adult; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013022:South Carolina