The health of working nurses: Hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control by medication

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Journal of Nursing Management

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

School

School of Nursing and Midwifery

RAS ID

26503

Comments

Gallagher, R., Perry, L., Duffield, C., Sibbritt, D., & Ying Ko, C. (2018). The health of working nurses: Hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control by medication. Journal of Nursing Management 26(4). 403-410. doi:10.1111/jonm.12553

Available here.

Abstract

Aims

To investigate hypertension awareness, prevalence and treatment in nurses.

Background

Nurses are the largest health workforce group, currently facing an ageing demographic and the risk of chronic disease such as hypertension. Little is known about hypertension in nurses despite the potential impact on work productivity.

Methods

A cross‐sectional online survey was distributed to nurses and midwives via the professional association and nursing directors. Questions were taken from published longitudinal health studies for blood pressure, hypertension and key sociodemographic and health factors.

Results

The participants’ (n = 5,041) mean age was 47.99 (SD 11.46) years. The majority knew their blood pressure, more so if they were female, of higher body mass index and aged 45–64 years, but less so if they were smokers. Hypertension prevalence increased with age, peaking at the oldest ages and the majority were treated (anti‐hypertensive medication), less so if agedcontrol, were most often aged 45–54 years and were smokers.

Conclusions

Hypertension prevalence is less in nurses than in the general population, however, once diagnosed treatment is not optimized.

Implications for Nursing Management

The potential impact of hypertension on older nurses’ work productivity justifies work‐based support for risk reduction behaviours.

DOI

10.1111/jonm.12553

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