Blood Pressure Measurement Training Program and Adherence of Public Health Nurses to BP Measurement Guidelines.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the level of adherence of public health nurses to BP measurement guidelines based on their knowledge if the guidelines and skills in BP measurement before and after Blood Pressure Measurement Training Program (BPMTP).

METHODS

An experimental pre- and post-test design using two-staged cluster randomization was conducted. 118 PHNs (mean age ± 38.45 years, mean years of experience ± 13.45 years; 84.1% women) from six districts in Manila were equally assigned to either the BPMTP group or control group. Structured instruments were used.

RESULTS

Demographic characteristics, current BP measurement practices, and level of adherence to BP measurement guidelines based on knowledge of the guidelines and skills in BP measurement were equivalent in both groups at baseline. Nurses in the BPMTP group showed improved adherence (=<0.05) compared to nurses in the control group. Both groups did not show significant change in their skill on recording, interpretation, and referral (=1.000).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that Blood Pressure Measurement Training Package is feasible in improving adherence of nurses based on their increased knowledge of the BP measurement guidelines and skills in BP measurement. A larger-scale study is warranted to show that BPMTP can potentially improve clinical management of hypertension in public health clinics globally.