How accurately do primary health care professionals use cardiovascular risk tables in the management of hypertension?
It has been suggested that use of cardiovascular risk tables in hypertensive patients might improve clinical management. As part of a randomised controlled trial, we evaluated the accuracy of health professionals' use of the New Zealand risk tables in primary care consultations. Chance-corrected agreement between health professionals' assessments of absolute risk was only moderate (weighted kappa = 0.56 at the 12-month follow-up). Inaccurate use of cardiovascular risk tables may be a barrier to effective implementation of research evidence in the management of hypertension.
Peters
T J
TJ
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol.
Montgomery
A A
AA
Fahey
T
T
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors