Self-monitoring of blood pressure for preeclampsia patients: Knowledge and attitudes.
Johanna Munyungula, Simangele Shakwane
PMID 34636622WHAT IT FOUND
Preeclampsia patients wanted home blood pressure checks, but many had received little teaching and feared using machines wrongly.
Cost, low confidence and unfamiliarity were practical barriers in this small study.
Key findings
01Most participants had limited knowledge of high blood pressure in pregnancy and said they had not received enough information.
02Many were willing to monitor blood pressure at home, but some feared making mistakes with an unfamiliar machine.
03Participants saw early detection as a benefit, but said owning a blood pressure machine was unaffordable.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study interviewed 14 patients at one public antenatal clinic, so the findings may not apply to other settings, provinces or private facilities. Participants were all African, and only one had a post-school qualification, which limits representativeness of women with higher education. The study reports knowledge and attitudes, not measured blood pressure outcomes or tested effects of home monitoring. The findings rely on what participants said in interviews, not on observed home blood pressure use.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that home blood pressure monitoring will reduce clinic visits or improve maternal and baby outcomes. This study explored patients' reported knowledge and attitudes, and did not test self-monitoring or measure outcomes.