Obesity and hypertension among African Americans: do African-American primary care providers address these conditions when secondary to primary illness?
This study examined the extent that black family medicine residents manage African-American patients with hypertension and obesity secondary to the primary health problem. A retrospective chart survey of 1806 outpatients was used to select a sample of 362 patients being treated by 12 African-American family medicine residents. Of the 362 patient charts, 31.2% of the patients had hypertension (ie, blood pressure > or = 140/90 mm Hg). A plan for managing hypertension was found in the charts for 77% of these patients. Obesity was present among 37% of the patients, and yet there was documentation of a treatment plan for managing this condition for only 38% of these patients. Black family medicine residents appear to be sensitized about addressing the problem of hypertension among African-American patients being treated for other illnesses. However, there is a vital need to teach family medicine physicians how to address and aggressively manage the problem of obesity among African-American patients, particularly those patients for whom obesity was not the primary reason for seeking medical care.
Johnson
E H
EH
Department of Family Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30338, USA.
Brandsond
D
D
Everett
J
J
Lollis
C M
CM
D044383:Black People; D005194:Family Practice / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D001741:Black or African American