Accuracy of sphygmomanometers at pharmacies.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study are to assess the reasons of using sphygmomanometers at pharmacies and to evaluate their accuracy.


METHODS
135 devices (118 aneroid, 1 mercury, and 16 automated) from 125 pharmacies (located in Samsun city center) were included in the study. A non-randomized, cross-sectional design was used for the study protocol which had two parts: assessment of devices and a questionnaire about the pharmacy and present sphygmomanometer(s).


RESULTS
40 (30%) of the 135 sphygmomanometers were inaccurate. 65 (48%) of the devices were older than 1 year and there was no correlation between the duration of the ownership of the sphygmomanometers and their inaccuracy (p > 0.05). Blood pressure measurement is a frequent practice at pharmacies. The aneroid type of sphygmomanometers was common. A limited number of devices were checked for accuracy before. The number of validated devices was low.


CONCLUSIONS
Training programs for pharmacists including the accuracy of sphygmomanometers and regular checks of sphygmomanometers for accuracy will be beneficial to the community and to the subjects requesting measurement of blood pressure at the pharmacies.
Erdem
Dilek Gurgenyatagi
DG
Department of Internal Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey.
Erdem
Emre
E
Dilek
Melda
M
Aydogdu
Turkan
T
Selim
Nevzat
N
Demiray
Feride
F
Sari
Aysel
A
Akpolat
Tekin
T
D001331:Automation; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010594:Pharmacies; D019722:Sphygmomanometers / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires