Investigation on the standardization of blood pressure measurement of general nurses in primary medical institutions in Sichuan Province

Objective To understand the configuration of sphygmomanometer in primary medical institutions of Sichuan province and the standardization of sphygmomanometer and measurement methods used by general nurses. Methods Convenient sampling was adopted and self-made questionnaire was used to investigate the configuration of sphygmomanometers in general nurses' organizations and the sphygmomanometers and measurement methods for screening, diagnosis and follow-up of patients with hypertension. Results A total of 258 valid responses were received. The allocation rate of mercury column sphygmomanometer, electronic sphygmomanometer and ambulatory blood pressure monitor were 97.3%, 96.5% and 34.5% respectively. When screening patients with hypertension, 68.2% of the general nurses used electronic sphygmomanometer, of which 50.6% used wrist electronic sphygmomanometers, and the utilization rate of mercury column sphygmomanometer and ambulate blood pressure monitor accounted for 31.4% and 0.4% respectively. When diagnosis people with hypertension, the utilization rate of mercury column sphygmomanometer, electronic sphygmomanometer and ambulate blood pressure monitor were 67.1%, 24.8% and 8.1% respectively. In the follow-up management of hypertensive patients, the above three types of sphygmomanometer utilization rate were 36.8%, 62.4% and 0.8% respectively. When screening patients with hypertension, 90.3% of general nurses chose office blood pressure measure, followed by ambulatory blood pressure measurement (5.4%) and home blood pressure measurement (4.3%). When diagnosis and follow-up people with hypertension, the above three blood pressure measure accounted for 81.0%, 16.7%, 2.3% and 68.6%, 2.7%, 28.7%, respectively. Conclusion The ratio of mercury sphygmomanometer and electronic sphygmomanometer in primary medical institutions in Sichuan province is high and the ambulatory blood pressure monitor is less. The blood pressure measurement of general nurses is not standardized, the use of electronic sphygmomanometer and ambulatory blood pressure monitor needs to be popularized, and the method of blood pressure measurements outside consulting room should be paid great attention.