Improving Blood Pressure Control through Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring

Uncontrolled hypertension can negatively affect a person’s overall health. Therefore, it is crucial that health care providers understand evidence-based measures that can improve hypertension control. The following Doctor of Nursing Practice project aimed to help improve hypertension outcomes in a community health clinic in West Palm Beach, Florida. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the impact of self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) as a self-management support strategy and discuss the outcomes of an educational intervention in a small community population. Along with a synthesis of current evidence on SMBP, this paper outlines the processes involved in measuring the effects of SMBP education on hypertension control. A data analysis involving mean differences between baseline and follow up blood pressure measurements, along with a paired samples t-test describing the differences between two week and 12 week post-intervention data is described. An evaluation of the project’s overall success and a discussion of implications for future practice are included as well.