title: Antihypertensive treatment and patient autonomy--the follow-up appointment as a resource for care.
abstract: Since hypertension is a chronic condition which generally requires long-term commitment to pharmacological therapy as well as alterations of patient lifestyle, the patient-physician communication in the clinical setting is an important determinant of the quality of care and health outcome. The aim of the present study was to explore the structure and content of the communication between the patient and the physician, and the process of decision-making at a routine follow-up appointment for hypertension. The study was based on 51 audio-recordings of authentic consultations. Most patients had a passive role in the consultations, and initiated few topics of conversation. The few topics that the patients initiated were usually not about hypertension. Patients' questions about medication mainly referred to unwanted effects of the drugs. Little time was invested in discussing risks related to hypertension. A collaborative shared decision-making was seldom observed in the consultations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Care, Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden. karkj@huk.liu.se
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kjellgren
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahlner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Säljö
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents