Blood pressure screening clinics: an opportunity for health promotion

A blood pressure clinic was organized in a newly developed community in an urban setting. While the primary purpose was to measure and interpret blood pressure (BP), special emphasis was placed on creating awareness of normal/abnormal BP. The study was also designed to identify health education activities performed by nurses in a BP clinic. Following an orientation program and using standardized protocol, volunteer nurses screened 671 adults with a mean age of 43.7 years. The additional activities performed by nurses are described and include 72 documented instances of health teaching, 111 referrals for elevated BP, and 32 referrals for other health problems. The results indicate that nurses provided valuable services in meeting consumer health care needs, and suggest that a BP clinic can be an effective and efficient vehicle for health promotion activities.