Hypertension in family practice. A study of knowledge, attitudes and practices.

A study was conducted in Cape Town during 1990 to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of 90 family practitioners with regard to hypertension and its management. Hypertension was regarded as an important health problem by 59% while 5% thought that it was not important. Sixty-eight per cent of family practitioners estimated that less than 15% of their patients suffered from hypertension and 78% of family practitioners estimated that more than 70% of their hypertensive patients' blood pressures were controlled. Fifty-five per cent of family practitioners thought it acceptable for a lay person to measure blood pressure and 68% felt that the use of a hypertension register in the practice would assist in the management of hypertension. The information gathered will be of great value in planning intervention strategies and developing hypertension management aids that could assist the family practitioner.