Barriers to hypertension care and control.

Despite clinical trial evidence and public health data documenting the benefits of controlling hypertension in individuals and populations, implementation in practice is less than optimal. Barriers to hypertension care and control are remarkably persistent and continue to impede improvement in rates of awareness, treatment, and control. Barriers have been identified at the patient, provider, health care organization, and community levels. At every level, knowledge, attitudes, values, and beliefs can impede the evidence-based recommended behaviors needed to lower blood pressure and sustain lowering over time. Numerous new studies provide data that reinforce the need for culturally sensitive interventions at each level.