Key result
Outpatient nurses achieve ~51% compliance with blood pressure measurement steps, showing no correlation with knowledge.
Why the study?
Accurate blood pressure measurement is critical to managing hypertension, yet compliance with recommended measurement techniques remains inadequate among nurses.
Cross-Sectional (n=30)
Single-blind
No
Outpatient nurses at a major teaching hospital in Ghana demonstrated poor compliance (50.7%) with guideline-recommended blood pressure measurement techniques despite moderate theoretical knowledge, highlighting an urgent need for practical in-service training to prevent hypertension misclassification.
Suboptimal BP measurement compliance among outpatient nurses may compromise hypertension diagnosis; cross-sectional data leaves open whether targeted practical training improves skills.
Background Accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement is critical to the diagnosis, classification, and management of hypertension. However, compliance with recommended blood pressure measurement techniques is still inadequate among nurses. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of outpatient department nurses' knowledge and BP measurement techniques at Tamale Teaching Hospital. Methods Participants were assessed while obtaining a BP reading with a sphygmomanometer by two trained assessors, and the correctness of their technique was assessed, based on World Health Organization and the European Society of Hypertension guidelines. They were then presented with a multiple-choice questionnaire to assess their knowledge of the recommendations for accurate BP measurement. Results A total of 30 nurses were included in the study, of whom 23 (76.7%) were female. The mean age of the participants was 29.3 ± 3.2 years, with a median (IQR) of 1 year (5 months-4.5 years) of practice. More than half of the participants (53.3%) did not receive any training on proper BP measurement techniques after leaving school. The overall compliance rate with proper BP measurement steps was 50.7%, with 40% of participants scoring below 50% on the skill assessment checklist. Participants scored poorly in areas such as enquiring about recent exercise, coffee or tea intake; enquiring whether the patient needed to empty their bladder; repeating BP measurements; checking BP in both arms and ensuring the patient had adequately rested. Participants generally performed better on the multiple-choice knowledge assessment; however, there was no correlation between skills and knowledge scores [ρ (28) = -0.176, p = 0.352]. Conclusion Several gaps exist in nurses’ skills regarding proper BP measurement in the outpatient department of Tamale Teaching Hospital. Measures, including in-service training, are needed to help translate knowledge into practice for proper BP measurement in the outpatient setting.
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Yakubu et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Blood pressure measurement technique and knowledge (n=30). Routine blood pressure measurement practice and guideline knowledge vs. World Health Organization (WHO) and European Society of Hypertension (ESH) guidelines was evaluated on Compliance rate with proper blood pressure measurement steps and correlation between skills and knowledge scores (ρ -0.176, p=0.352). Outpatient nurses achieved a 50.7% overall compliance rate with proper blood pressure measurement steps, with no correlation between practical skills and theoretical knowledge (ρ = -0.176, p = 0.352).
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