Material and methods:

A prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was performed and the technique was evaluated at the Mocel Ángeles Hospital. 101 participants were observed, including nurses, residents, interns and nursing assistants.

Results:

The most frequent omissions were not asking about empty bladder (99% of the cases) and not asking whether the patient received sympathomimetic medications in 96%. Only 4% presented an acceptable technique with more than eight of the 12 steps. There was no identified difference in the quality of the technique according to the position between doctors or nurses (p = 0.113). We observed a significant difference in diastolic pressure between the acceptable technique group and the inadequate technique group (p = 0.020) and between regular and inadequate (p = 0.041).

Conclusion:

Health professionals do not follow the right procedure when measuring blood pressure inside the hospital. Given a better technique, the variation in diastolic is smaller.