Self Care and Home Blood Pressure Monitor Use
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1-1-1999
Description
Purpose: To determine how patients used the results of home blood pressure measurements. Volunteers (N = 91) were solicited from a general internal medicine practice and the general public by advertisements. Volunteers completed a written survey addressing demographic factors and issues related to their use and interpretation of home blood pressure measurements. Methods: 73% of the volunteers indicated that they purchased their monitor to "be involved in their own health care." 55% did so "to improve" and 12% "to save money on" their health care. 86% of the volunteers recognized that an acceptable systolic blood pressure was less than 140mmHg and that an acceptable diastolic blood pressure was less than 90 mmHg. The survey gave different options to deal with a high and low blood pressure. 92% of the volunteers indicated they would respond with at least one of the options to a high blood pressure. The volunteers responded as follows: 7% would take an extra pill, 11% would change diet, 24% would rest, 73% would recheck the blood pressure, 17% would have someone else check the blood pressure. 76% of the volunteers noted they would respond to at least one option for a low blood pressure. The volunteers responded as follows: 1% would stop medication. 5% would hold medication, 22% would call the doctor, 3% would change diet, 8% would lie down, 61% would recheck the blood pressure and 15% would have someone else check the blood pressure Results: Imply that there is a desire from patients to be involved in their own health care. The involvement was done in an effort to partner with their physician and not to usurp the physicians control or avoid the expense of medical care. Conclusions: Our previous findings from this group of volunteers that 34% of the blood pressure results obtained were inaccurate along with the present data indicate that a need exists to educate and monitor those using a home blood pressure monitor. Undertaken in a positive sense the physician could have a most willing ally in the battle against hypertension.
Citation Information
Merrick, R. D.; Olive, K. E.; Landy, C.; Hamdy, R. C.; and Cancellaro, V.. 1999. Self Care and Home Blood Pressure Monitor Use. Journal of Investigative Medicine. Vol.47(2). ISSN: 1708-8267