Abstract

ABSTRACT: Aims: Hypertension is the most important risk factor for the preventable causes of deaths worldwide. Determination of the subjects with hypertension in the medical practice is a valuable effort for the prevention of related complications and promotion of public health. Accordingly, measurement of the blood pressure for diagnosis of hypertension is among the knowledge and skills most widely used by the medical students in medical practice after graduation and therefore, its precise and accurate achievement in accordance with certain rules is very important. Definition of the level of knowledge of medical students on this issue may both give us an idea about whether it is achieved correctly in medical practice and also may be an indicator in evaluation of the quality of the medical education. In this study we aimed to define the theoretical knowledge of medical students on measurement of blood pressure. Methods: This cross sectional study was performed among medical students, third and fifth degree, in Akdeniz University Medical School between MarchApril 2015. A questionnaire prepared to determine the knowledge of medical students about blood pressure measurement was performed in a total of 282 participants (participation rate was 78% for the third and 75% for the fifth degree students). Social and demographic characteristics of the participants were also noted. Descriptive data was presented as percentages and analytical data was tested with chisquare test. Significance level were accepted as 0,05. Results: Time of the measurement was the best known rule (93,2%), but taking the air out of cuff was the least (37,9%). The level of knowledge on measurement of blood pressure was higher among those fifth degree, female, having higher success in school, having a health worker in his/her family and those who did not prefer medical school with his/her own decision (p<0,05). Other variables were not significantly related with the test score. Conclusion: Some problems were defined about the knowledge of blood pressure measurement, especially among third degree students, males, those having poor success in school and those having a health worker in his/her family. Knowledge on the blood pressure measurement may be used as an indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of medical education.

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