PLEASE TRY THIS AT HOME: STANDARDIZED BLOOD PRESSURE SELF-MEASUREMENT - WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE AND FEASIBILITY STUDY

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Objective: Clinical and epidemiological research needs standardized resting blood pressure (BP) measurements, as even small mean differences of a few mmHg between treatment groups or populations have prognostic or public health relevance. Standardization of sitting and arm position, cuff choice and resting time are usually ensured by trained study staff. The MeinBlutdruck study investigates willingness to participate and feasibility of standardized blood pressure self-measurements at home. Design and method: 1) Willingness to self-measure BP with mailed devices: interview of 6,469 adults embedded in a nationwide telephone interview survey, on their willingness to measure their blood pressure on three days in the morning and in the evening with mailed devices and video and written instructions. 2) Barriers to participation: qualitative interviews (n = 20). 3) Explanatory video 4) Feasibility: self-measurements with mailed devices (n = 200) with accompanying online-interviews. Results: Willingness to participate was affirmed by 38% of 6,469 respondents and, after adjustment for sociodemographic, health and ehavioural aspects, was associated with higher educational attainment (highest to lowest educational attainment (OR:2.06 [95% CI:1.60–2.66] and absence of chronic disease (OR:0.58 [95% CI:0.47- 0.73]), but not with self-reported hypertension (OR = 0.83 [95% CI:0.66- 1.06]). The qualitative interviews showed that the time for standardized measurements due to resting time and multiple measurements was considered long. The focus of the video was on the motivation to participate and on conveying a standardized calm measurement situation. First results of the feasibility study (n = 96) were: 14% of the devices were not returned 4 weeks after sending (n = 13), 4% were damaged and data was lost (n = 4), and 20% of the collected blood pressure measurement data did not correspond to the standardization specifications with 2 measurements in the morning and 2 in the evening on 3 days (n = 19). Standardized blood pressure measurement data could be collected from 62% of those willing to participate. Conclusions: The first preliminary results suggest that a standardized blood pressure self-measurement under home conditions is possible, however, response and adherence to the measurement protocol are much lower compared to blood pressure measurement in a study center.