Search

Abstract Objective: To compare blood pressure control, satisfaction, and adherence to drug treatment in patients with treated hypertension followed up by their family physicians either every three months or every six months for three years. Design: Randomised equivalence clinical trial. Settings: 50 family practices in south eastern Ontario, Canada. Participants: 609 patients aged 30-74 years with essential hypertension receiving drug treatment whose hypertension had been controlled for at least three months before entry into the study. Results: 302 patients were randomly assigned to follow up every three months and 307 to follow up every six months. Baseline variables in the two groups were similar. As expected, patients in the six month group had significantly fewer visits, but patients in both groups visited their doctor more frequently than their assigned interval. Mean blood pressure was similar in the groups, as was control of hypertension. Patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment were similar in the groups. About 20% of patients in each group had blood pressures that were out of control during the study. Conclusions: Follow up of patients with treated essential hypertension every six months is equivalent to follow up every three months. Patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment are the same for these follow up intervals. As about 20% of patients' hypertension was out of control at any time during the study in both groups, the frequency of follow up may not the most important factor in the control of patients' hypertension by family practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses prominent issues related to family medicine in Canada for 1997. Job of family physician; Publication of `Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine'; Physicians' attitudes toward clinical practice guidelines; Popularity of alternative therapies; Treatment of sore throats; Avoidance of episiotomies; Patient-centered approach.

Presents a response to letters to the editor of the "British Medical Journal" as of March 13, 2004. Discussion of a medical study regarding the management of hypertension in medical practice; Promotion of the practice of having patients measure their own blood pressure between visits to the doctor.