Abstract

VAZQUEZ, JA et al. Técnica de Medición de la Presión Arterial Utilizada por Enfermeras Auxiliares del Hospital Universitario de Caracas. RFM [online]. 2001, vol.24, n.1, pp.80-87. ISSN 0798-0469.

The variables considered as frequent sources of errors in recording the blood pressure were compared in 50 patients between a group of trained (control) and non-trained (experimental) assistant nurses. In the control group, the cuff was centred properly on the patient’s arm in the 97% of the cases, it was placed over the patient’s clothe in the 0%, in the 99% they used the palpatory method previous pressure measurements, in all the measurements it was palpated the braquial artery and it was used the stethoscope’s bell, and in the 95% the rate of cuff deflation was adequate; the obtained values by the experimental group were 46%, 36%, 0%, 46%, 2%, and 18%, respectively (p<0,001 in all the comparations). The terminal digit preferences were evaluated: in the experimental group there was an absolute preference to favour the terminal digit zero in systolic pressures, and almost absolute in diastolic ones; in the control group, the terminal digits were more homogeneous. In the 14% of the readings in the experimental group were observed conventional values of arterial pressure such as 120/80 mmHg, against to 0,5% observed in the control group. The implications of an inappropriate procedure in managing patients are considerable, especially for the additive effects of the errors. This was manifested by the fact that the experimental group classified as hypertensive to 14% of patients when they really were not, and 4% were not classified as hypertensive patients when they really were.

Keywords : Blood Hypertension; Sfigmomanometro.