Swedish general practitioners' practice behaviour in hypertension care.
OBJECTIVE
To examine care organization and practice behaviour in hypertension care among Swedish general practitioners.


METHODS
A postal questionnaire followed by a structured interview, in a two-step study design.


METHODS
Uppsala-Orebro region in mid-Sweden (population 1.9 mill.)


METHODS
General practitioners employed by counties, according to a register maintained by the Swedish Medical Association (N = 489).


METHODS
Practice behaviour score compared with a gold standard.


RESULTS
392 general practitioners returned the questionnaire, and the interview was accomplished with 222 of 232 who agreed to participate. Non-responder studies were carried out in both steps. Every fifth GP had access to a special hypertension clinic at their health centre, and 29% had specially trained nurses for hypertension care. 31% reported use of written guidelines. 47% declared they accepted higher BP-levels than recommended, although 78% agreed with official guidelines. The mean practice behaviour score was 8,77 (range 5-12, maximum score 12).


CONCLUSIONS
Although a majority of GPs agree with official guidelines, there is a considerable variation in care organization and practice behaviour in hypertension care.
Ribacke
M
M
Department of Family Medicine, University of Uppsala, Sweden.
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden