Att mäta ankeltryck i primärvården
Distriktssköterskors och distriktsläkares uppfattningar om en undersökningsmetod och dess användning
Peripheral arterial diseaseDopplerAnkle-brachial indexPrimary carePerifer artärsjukdomDopplerAnkelbrakialindexPrimärvård
Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), as a consequence of atherosclerosis in the arteria of the limbs, affects one of ten Swedes older than 65. PAD can develop slowly and silently, and involves an increased risk for cardiac infarction and stroke. Measurement of the patient´s ankle blood pressure and calculation of the ankle-brachial index is an evidence-based method to discover PAD. Objective: To investigate how district nurses and general practitioners perceive this method of examination and experience possible obstacles to why it is not more commonly applied at primary health care centres. Method: Data collected by semi-structured interviews have been processed by qualitative content analysis with a manifest onset. Results: The participants described a lack of routine for the measurement of ankle blood pressure at their health care centres. In their experience the cooperation of district nurses and general practitioners was characterized by insufficient information and unclear roles. Conclusion: As a consequence of lacking routines and indistinct roles at the health care centres, measurement of ankle blood pressure was not always performed as indicated in the guidelines. More knowledge and established routines could have led to better care for patients with PAD.