Factors associated with the practice of home blood pressure monitoring among healthcare providers in public healthcare clinics in Putrajaya.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension remains a leading global health concern due to its high prevalence and serious health complications. Nowadays, home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) has emerged as a valuable non-pharmacological intervention to control blood pressure (BP). Numerous studies have demonstrated the pattern of HBPM practice among hypertensive patients. However, information on optimal practice of HBPM instruction by the healthcare providers (HCPs) is still lacking. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of optimal practice of HBPM instruction methods by the HCPs to their hypertensive patients and factors associated with it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted among HCPs with working experience of more than a year, from all four government primary health clinics in Putrajaya between March 2023 and September 2024. The validated Malay-version i-HBPM questionnaire, also known as "the practice of HBPM instruction methods for hypertensive patients" questionnaire was used in this study. RESULTS: A total of 285 HCPs were recruited in this study. The prevalence of optimal practice of HBPM instruction methods by the HCPs to their hypertensive patients was 14.4%. The most frequently reported barriers to HBPM recognition among HCPs were a lack of understanding of HBPM (28.8%), a lack of HBPM guidelines (17.2%) and the high cost of devices (16.5%). From the HCPs' thought and perspective, the top three most significant patient-related barriers were a lack of understanding of HBPM (42.1%), followed by high device cost (33.0%) and low education level (29.5%). Attending HBPM training was the only significant factor associated with the optimal practice of HBPM instruction methods given by HCPs to their patients (adjusted OR 3.48, 95.0% CI 1.29, 9.34, p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a low prevalence of optimal practice of HBPM instruction methods provided by HCPs to their hypertensive patients despite high recognition and recommendation of HBPM among HCPs. HBPM training for HCPs is very crucial to improve their knowledge and consultation skills on HBPM.