Office-based interventions for recognizing abnormal pediatric blood pressures
Douglas McLaughlin1, John R Hayes, Kelly Kelleher
1Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, 43205, USA. Douglas.mclaughlin@nationwidechildrens.org
Clinical Pediatrics
|July 11, 2009
Summary
Simple interventions like BP tables or PDA programs did not improve physician recognition of elevated pediatric blood pressure (BP). Further education and strategies are needed to enhance early detection and management of high BP in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pediatric blood pressure (BP) screening is crucial for early detection of hypertension.
- Effective interventions to improve BP screening in clinical settings are not well-established.
- Elevated BP in children can lead to long-term cardiovascular complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of two in-office interventions on physician recognition of elevated pediatric BP measurements.
- To assess staff acceptance and utilization of the implemented interventions.
- To identify barriers to recognizing and addressing elevated BP in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving three groups: Group 1 (BP tables), Group 2 (PDA program for BP percentile calculation), and Group 3 (control).
- Measurement of physician recognition rates for elevated BP based on compliance with the interventions.
- Statistical analysis to determine the significance of intervention effects on BP recognition.
Main Results:
- BP table intervention showed 18% recognition for compliant and 12% for noncompliant records.
- PDA intervention showed 33% recognition for compliant and 26% for noncompliant records.
- No statistically significant difference in BP recognition was observed between intervention groups and the control, irrespective of compliance.
Conclusions:
- The tested in-office interventions did not significantly improve physician recognition of elevated pediatric blood pressure.
- Inconsistent use of interventions and lack of significant impact highlight the need for further research.
- Future strategies should focus on education and addressing barriers to improve pediatric BP screening and management.
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