Improving Blood Pressure Measurement and Hypertension Control:An Educational Workshop for Older Adults

Inaccurate blood pressure measurement in clinical settings poses an increased risk of morbidity and mortality to older adults. The goal of this project was to create an educational workshop focused on accurate blood pressure measurement f or older adults to increase participants' knowledge and instill self-efficacy to advocate for their health and wellbeing. The basis of this blood pressure centered educational workshop is adult learning theory, Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory, and principles of the Social Cognitive Theory with an emphasis on role-playing. It includes a didactic presentation, facilitated discussion, and role-playing sessions with debriefing. Four older adults and four healthcare workers participated in the workshop via web-based meeting platforms. After the workshop, 100% of participants either agreed or strongly agreed that they felt confident that they could have their blood pressure measured accurately. And, 75% of participants reported that the use of role-playing improved their learning experience. Older adults were able to learn to identify the factors that contribute to errors in blood pressure measurement and gained the skills to advocate for better blood pressure assessment in the clinical setting.