Patient assessment of self-measurement of blood pressure: results of a telephone survey in Germany.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain information on the adoption of self-measurement of blood pressure by hypertensives and their attending physicians.


METHODS
Callers to the Cardiovascular Hotline Heidelberg revealing themselves to have high blood pressure were interviewed about self-recording of blood pressure.


RESULTS
Among the callers about 70% practised self-measurement. Half of them bought a device on their own initiative, one-third on recommendation or prescription by their physician. A quarter of those practising the technique were introduced to it by experienced personnel and a comparable number were adequately informed about the aims and objectives. Nevertheless, more than half of those practising self-measurement claimed to be coping better with the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate that self-monitoring is widely practised by hypertensives in Germany. In contrast to this finding, too few physicians have adopted home-recording as a useful tool in the treatment of hypertension.
Krecke
H J
HJ
German Hypertension Society, Heidelberg, Germany.
Lütkes
P
P
Maiwald
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged