| The extent and implications of sphygmomanometer calibration error in primary care. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 11550103 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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AIM: The sphygmomanometer is an essential piece of diagnostic equipment, used in many routine consultations in primary care. Its accuracy depends on correct maintenance and calibration. This study was designed to: (1) assess the maintenance and calibration of sphygmomanometers in use in primary care; (2) assess the clinical, ethical, legal and public health implications of our findings. METHOD: A researcher assessed the accuracy of mercury and aneroid sphygmomanometers in use in 231 English general practices. He also made enquiries about arrangements for the maintenance and calibration of sphygmomanometers. We conducted a small telephone survey in general practices across the country to determine maintenance and calibration arrangements across the country. We carried out a modelling exercise to explore the clinical, ethical and public health implications of our findings. RESULTS: Of 1462 sphygmomanometers, 9.2% gave readings were more than 5 mm Hg inaccurate. No practice had arrangements for maintenance and calibration of sphygmomanometers. Nationally, one of 54 practices had an arrangement for maintenance and calibration. True hypertension is very uncommon in women under 35, a blood pressure which is measured as high is much more likely to be caused by calibration error than by hypertension. CONCLUSION: It is rare for sphygmomanometers used in primary care to be maintained and calibrated. Because of this women under 35 are at risk of misclassification and inappropriate treatment. This has ethical and public health implications. Clinicians using equipment which has not been maintained and calibrated may be medically negligent. |
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Authors:
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A Rouse; T Marshall |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of human hypertension Volume: 15 ISSN: 0950-9240 ISO Abbreviation: J Hum Hypertens Publication Date: 2001 Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2001-09-10 Completed Date: 2001-10-11 Revised Date: 2004-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8811625 Medline TA: J Hum Hypertens Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 587-91 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. A.M.Rouse@bham.ac.uk |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adolescent Adult Aged Blood Pressure / physiology Calibration Data Collection Diagnostic Errors / instrumentation* Equipment Failure Female Humans Hypertension / diagnosis*, physiopathology Male Middle Aged Primary Health Care* Reproducibility of Results Sphygmomanometers / standards* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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