SHOULD WE REALLY STOP OFFICE BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT? A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To assess patients’ perception of Office Blood Pressure (OBP) measurement during a General Practitioner (GP) visit. Design and method: Qualitative study conducted by semi-directed individual interviews of 31 patients, from November 2020 to October 2021 in the Eastern region of France, using a thematic and comprehensive analysis. Results: Patient attachment to OBP measurement was high. It was an expected act, allowing the evaluation of their health status and therefore a source of reassurance, and furthermore deemed an integral part of the visit and «check-up ». Patients trusted GPs’ BP measurements with the latter being perceived as falling within their role and competence. A lack of OBP measurement was considered as an omission of the GP's duty. It was moreover considered as a gold-standard by hypertensive patients performing Home Blood Pressure Measurements (HBPM). Conclusions: OBP measurement remains an essential act for patients, both from a medical and practitioner-patient relationship standpoint. Although the expansion of connected medicine will lead to a better acceptance of electronic devices in the management of hypertension, OPB measurement should be continued with the view of maintaining the quality of the physician-patient relationship.