The Importance of Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP) in Diagnosing and Managing Hypertension

Abstract

Purpose: Educate health care patients (HCP) at University of Arizona Telehealth Learning Center (TLC) on hypertension, and how to measure home blood pressure, and to introduce the concept of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) among participants who have hypertension. The goal is to encourage using a home blood pressure (BP) monitor to make diagnosis and manage HTN as well as suggest lifestyle modification based on evidence-based practice. Background: Hypertension is a frequently encountered condition in primary care. It plays a significant role in cardiovascular disease, and despite documented success with BP treatments, many individuals diagnosed with hypertension cannot achieve targeted BP control. widespread increase in telehealth has promoted the concept of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) and self-management to control the BP of patients with hypertension Methods: This was a quality improvement (QI) project. Participants were 11 health care participants (HCP) at the University of Arizona Telehealth Learning Center (TLC). The intervention was virtual synchronous education through zoom, with a follow up survey through Qualtrics software to measure the HCPs knowledge about hypertension. The survey was posted in the zoom chat box after the zoom session and returned anonymously. Results: 10 out of the 12 HCPs invited participated in the live zoom session. All surveys were returned and completed. Seventy-two percent HCPs believed SMBP will be beneficial in controlling HTN and felt confident to use SMBP after participating in a zoom session on HTN and SMBP. Conclusions: The results indicate the intervention provided knowledge about normal BP, risk factors for HTN and proper way of performing SMBP. This serves to inform future research by providing a basic training on HTN and SMBP. Further areas of research will include ways of disseminating SMBP education to encompass cover more patients and expand ways patient will communicate results to their providers without missing any data.