Article
Risk factors for stroke: Hypertension in the perception of family doctors
Risikofaktoren für Schlaganfall: Wahrnehmung von Hypertonie durch Hausärzte
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Authors
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S. Segebrecht
- Charité Berlin (Berlin, D)
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J. Welke
- Charité Berlin (Berlin, D)
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M. Herrmann
- Charité Berlin (Berlin, D)
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U. Schwantes
- Charité Berlin (Berlin, D)
| Published: | November 11, 2004 |
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Outline
Text
Hypertension is one of the main causes for stroke. In the first part of this study patients from general practice surgeries had been recruited if the attending physician perceived at least one of eight well-defined risk factors for stroke, among which there was severe hypertension >160/100 mm Hg. 692 patients (35%) of a total of 2008 were included with this criterion which therewith was the most dominant one.
Methods
After completion of a one-year data acquisition phase we carried out 35 qualitative interviews with a cohort of family physicians in three German centres (Frankfurt, Nordbaden, Berlin). The participants were asked about risk assessment, their personal opinion about risk factors, estimated influence on risk reduction and the physician-patient relationship.
Results
Most doctors put hypertension in the first place on an 8-item ranking list where risk factors for stroke were to arrange in order of importance to them.
With respect to their success in prevention doctors differentiated fundamentally between medicamentously treatable risk factors and those linked with "life-style": Hypertension as a prime example for a risk that can be diminished by medication was estimated to be more easily changed than, for instance, smoking.
Even though, many patients with hypertension repress the problem as they currently don't suffer from their disease.
Conclusions
Apart from doctors' alertness to the topic and excellent medical treatment available there is still a great many of hypertensive patients with inadequate medical care. Every endeavour should be made to transfer the merits of research to every single patient in primary care in order to improve prevention. This means focussing on patient education, the physician-patient relationship, communication and compliance..
