Abstract

SOUZA-GALLARDO, Luis Manuel; MARQUEZ-BOBADILLA, Ana Paula; LOPEZ-ATRISTAIN, Alejandro Ismael  and  FORTOUL-VAN DER GOES, Teresa Imelda. Qualitative differences in blood pressure measurement technique in medical students of two UNAM Faculty of Medicine curricula. Investigación educ. médica [online]. 2012, vol.1, n.2, pp.75-81. ISSN 2007-5057.

Introduction: Elevated blood pressure (BP) represents one of the most clinically important problems that affect Mexican population. Medical undergraduate students should master the auscultatory BP measurement method to detect patients at risk. The purpose of this report was to compare the BP measurement technique in different years of the medical undergraduate program and compare the impact of the teaching strategies that are currently used at UNAM Faculty of Medicine. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional, observational study. Hundred first-year medical students, 151 third-year students and 150 fifth-year students who measured blood pressure in real subjects were evaluated. BM measurement technique and physician-patient relationship were measured with checklist instruments developed at UNAM Faculty of Medicine, and comparison in scores of the three groups were performed. Results: Third-year students had better technical and cognitive performances (p<0.05) compared with the other two groups. First year students demonstrated a better technique and had higher patient-physician communication skills. Conclusion: Our results support the need to reinforce clinical skills learned during the program, incorporating practical training at an earlier stage.

Keywords : Undergraduate medical education; clinical skills; blood pressure measurement; physician-patient relationship.

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