[Patient cooperation in hypertensive therapy (author's transl)].

Patients with hypertension usually follow the medical recommendations only very inadequately. It can be assumed that perhaps 50-60% of hypertensives take less than 50-80% of the drugs prescribed. Improved cooperation will best be achieved when the nature of their illness, the necessity for prolonged treatment and the consequences of not being treated are carefully and intelligently explained to the patient. The plan of treatment should be simple and adapted to the living habits as closely as possible. The patient should be instructed on the possible side-effects of the drug as early as possible and strengthened in his own sense of responsibility (e.g. keeping a record and measuring his own blood pressure). Regular follow-up examinations possibly by the appointment system should be arranged. The legislators and the pharmaceutic industry are asked to produce package inserts which patients can understand.