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Article Information:
Relationship Between Nurses Qualifications and Their Skills in Early Detection of High Blood Pressure in Primary Health Care Centres in Delta State, Nigeria
M.I. Ofili
Corresponding Author: M.I. Ofili
Submitted: 2012 February, 05
Accepted: March 30, 2012
Published: October 25, 2012 |
Abstract:
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This study is aimed at assessing nurses’ skills in screening and early detection of high blood pressure
with a view to determining its relationship to their qualifications in primary health care centres in Delta State.
Nurses are often engaged in the prevention of chronic diseases like hypertension in primary health care settings.
However, information about their skills in screening and early detection of high blood pressure in South-South
Nigeria are scarce. Therefore this research attempts to assess nurses’ skills and procedures of measuring and
detecting the early stage of hypertension. The observed skills were compared with their professional
qualifications. An observational checklist was used to assess their skills in blood pressure measurement, history
taking, physical examination and investigation as recommended by the Nurses Hypertension Association
(NHA). Blood pressure was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer by eighty-five participating nurses
chosen from the twenty-nine randomly selected primary health care centres from the twenty-five local
government areas in Delta State. The results show that 77% of the nurses were found to be good in blood
pressure measurement and 67% were good in investigation. Fifty-three percent (53%) were found to be good
in history taking and 63% in physical examination. Furthermore, results showed that skills in blood pressure
assessment were dependent on professional qualifications. Overall, most of the nurses had no training in the
management of hypertension and did not make use of the NHA guidelines. These indicate the need for facilities
to organize training courses on hypertension management for nurses. It would also be beneficial to include new
trends in nursing education. The NHA guidelines would need to be introduced to students while in school.
Key words: Blood pressure, hypertension, nurses, patients, qualification, skills,
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Cite this Reference:
M.I. Ofili, . Relationship Between Nurses Qualifications and Their Skills in Early Detection of High Blood Pressure in Primary Health Care Centres in Delta State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, (5): 156-160.
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ISSN (Online): 2040-8773
ISSN (Print): 2040-8765 |
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