South Australian hypertension survey. General practitioner knowledge and reported management practices--a cause for concern?

OBJECTIVE

To survey South Australian general practitioners to investigate their knowledge and reported management of patients with hypertension.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Of 156 randomly selected SA general practitioners 132 responded to a questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

This survey showed substantial differences between general practitioners in their knowledge about hypertension and in their reported practices for diagnostic levels, investigations to be undertaken once diagnosis had been made, levels at which pharmaceutical treatment should be initiated, at which level treatment was regarded as having attained satisfactory control, and length of time for routine review. There was also a demand for materials to be provided to assist in the management of this important condition.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a perceived need for better and more appropriate educational materials and a need for a different approach to try and reduce the reported variability in management of patients with hypertension by general practitioners.