Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To determine whether pregnant hypertensives women are more anxious when monitored in hospital or at homes.
DESIGN:
Prospective randomized controlled trial.
SETTING:
Rosie Maternity Hospital and women's homes.
SUBJECTS:
Ninety-nine pregnant hypertensive women: 50 had their blood pressure measured telemetrically from home, and 49 had it measured in hospital.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Number of episodes of monitoring, duration of monitoring, mean blood pressure during monitoring, gestational age at delivery, trait and state anxiety levels.
RESULTS:
There were no significant differences in anxiety levels, or in any other outcome measure, between the home and hospital groups.
CONCLUSION:
When blood pressure is being monitored serially in pregnant hypertensive women, there is no measurable difference in their anxiety levels, whether they are in hospital or at home.