[Medical residents' attitudes to the diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To find the attitude of Residential Interns (RI) to the diagnosis and initiation of treatment for Arterial Hypertension (AH).


METHODS
Crossover study.


METHODS
Tertiary hospital in Zaragoza's Health Area III.


METHODS
60 RIs selected by means of stratified random sampling. An open-reply questionnaire administered in writing on an individual basis during the second term of 1991.


RESULTS
28% of RIs (17 RIs) used the figures 140/90 mmHg to diagnosis AHT. 70% (42 RIs) made three measurements before making a diagnosis. 13% (8 RIs) took therapeutic measures when systolic pressure (SP) was above 140 mmHg and 30% (18 RIs) when the figures were above 160 mmHg. Diastolic pressure (DP) above 90 mmHg was a signal that treatment was needed for 43% (26 RIs); and figures above 95 mmHg for 31% (19 RIs). There were no differences for the doctor's age, gender, specialty, year of graduation or year of residency.


CONCLUSIONS
The RIs used figures recommended by bodies such as the WHO or the Spanish Society for the Fight against AHT, to diagnose AHT. They made the diagnosis after three measurements. They started treatment, which is usually hygiene-dietetic measures to begin with, according to the DP.
Díez Manglano
J
J
Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital Clínico y Centro de Salud Universitas, Zaragoza.
Callau Barrio
M P
MP
D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Actitud de los médicos residentes en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial.