| Sub-title | |
| Author | P Ferry |
| Abstract | Background: Recurrent falls are very common in older people. One of the causes of recurrent falls is orthostatic hypotension. The correct measurement of blood pressure (BP) change with posture is thus central in making this important observation. There is great variation in the clinical practice of measuring postural change in BP. Aim: To assess whether nurses at ZCH have the correct theoretical knowledge of how and when to measure postural BP in patients. Methodology: The study population comprised nursing staff who had Oral Presentations 22 Malta Medical Journal Volume 18 Supplement December 2006 the responsibility of measuring postural blood pressure when such a measurement was requested by a doctor. A set of 3 short multiple completion type questions were distributed to the nurses on duty on 2 consecutive days including the evening shifts. It was emphasised that the audit was anonymised and confidential. A 45 minute lecture on the physiology of blood pressure control, the reasons why we measure postural BP and the correct technique of measuring postural BP was delivered by the author to all the nursing shifts. During the discussion that followed, it was agreed that a printed proforma would be devised on which the definition of postural hypotension would be printed, together with the correct technique and a separate area for charting a patient's BP and the symptoms experienced by that patient if any, during the procedure. Six months later, in the second cycle of this audit, the same multiple completion questions were repeated. Results from the first and second audit cycles were compared. Results: 34 and 27 nurses respectively participated in the first and second audit cycles. There was an overall improvement in knowledge from 82% to 96% getting 1 question right, 28% to 96% getting 2 questions right and 3% to 56% getting all 3 questions right. Conclusion: This full cycle audit was successful in improving nurses' knowledge in the correct practice of measuring postural change in BP. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 18 Supplement |
| Page | |
| Date | 01/12/2006 |
| Link to journal | |
| Key words | audit, elderly, nurse education, postural blood pressure |