AN AUDIT OF THE USE OF SPHYGMOMANOMETERS

SUMMARY This survey assessed the measurement of blood pressure and use of sphygmomanometers by general practitioners in Humberside and Yorkshire in 1988. All registered practitioners were sent a questionnaire — 1223 (58%) returned it completed. Their responses showed that 269 (22%) had an aneroid sphygmomanometer only, and that 120 (10%) had a random zero sphygmomanometer; 700 (57%) had special cuffs for obese patients, and 558 (46%) had special cuffs for children; 228 (23.5%) had never had their sphygmomanometers serviced (‘never’ corresponding to a mean time of 5.75 years), while 23% had patients who measured their own blood pressure. These findings suggest that the British Hypertension Society's recommendations on servicing and cuff use are not always applied. A formal audit of the use of different types of sphygmomanometer in general practice may encourage and improve accuracy and uniformity in blood pressure recording.