Evaluation of Primary Doctor's Knowledge on Target Level of Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to find out whether primary physicians know the new guidelines (JNC VII) of target BP (blood pressure) and whether they educate their patients properly or not. METHODS: We made calls to local clinicians (family medicine (FM), internal medicine (IM), oriental medicine (OM)) under the disguise of the patient's caretaker and asked them the target BP for patients with hypertension without any cardiovascular disease and those with hypertension and DM (diabetes mellitus). We categorized the participants according to sex, age and departments. RESULTS: Out of the 145 clinics, 88 clinics responded (28 clinicians of FM, 30 clinicians of IM, 30 clinicians of OM). Questions on systolic target BP for patients with hypertension without cardiovascular disease, 87 clinicians answered. Among them, 64 clinicians (73.6%) answered correctly to the target BP (< or =140 mmHg), in the order of FM, IM, and OM. Questions on the diastolic pressure (< or =90 mmHg), 78 clinicians answered and all of them answered correctly. On the question of the target BP for the patients and hypertension and DM, 55 clinicians (63.2%) answered correctly to the systolic target BP (< or =130 mmHg) in the order of IM, FM, and OM. Only 19 clinicians (32.4%) answered correctly to the diastolic target BP (< or =90 mmHg) in the order of FM, IM, and OM. CONCLUSION: The clinicians have given less correct answers on the target BP in the patients and hypertension and DM than those with only essential hypertension. In conclusion, local clinicians should be fully aware of the target BP in patients with hypertension associated with cardiovascular disease or other complications. Also they should educate their patients properly.