Open AccessBarriers to Referral for Elevated Blood Pressure in the Emergency Department and Differences Between Provider Type
Author(s) -
Souffront Kimberly,
Chyun Deborah,
Kovner Christine
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/jch.12468
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , referral , blood pressure , asymptomatic , family medicine , emergency medicine , prehypertension , medical emergency , nursing
A multidisciplinary sample of emergency department providers across the United States (n=450) were surveyed to identify barriers to referral for elevated blood pressure ( BP ) in the emergency department and differences between provider type. Registered nurses reported less knowledge of stage I hypertension ( P= .043) and prehypertension ( P< .01); were less aware of definitions for hypertension ( P< .001); reported more difficulty in caring for patients who are asymptomatic ( P= .007); required financial compensation to refer ( P= .048); and perceived that BP referrals are influenced by the medical director ( P< .001). Medical doctors reported more skills to refer ( P= .008) and time as a barrier ( P= .038). Physician assistants were more likely to report patients are not aware of health benefits ( P= .035), doubted their concern for their BP ( P =.023), and felt emotionally uncomfortable when referring ( P= .025). Despite these differences, there was no significant difference between provider type and referral rates.