title: Barriers to follow-up of hypertensive patients.
abstract: Lack of follow-up care for hypertension adversely affects health in urban communities. The authors designed this study to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of a specialized intervention program for hypertension follow-up and (2) evaluate the associations with loss to follow-up. They evaluated factors related to loss to follow-up to either a routine care medical clinic or a special primary care intervention program (the Competitive Initiative Program [CIP]). They also conducted interviews to provide in-depth information on the barriers to this program. They found that patients referred through the CIP were significantly more likely to receive follow-up care through a primary care provider. Cost of care, long waiting times, lack of physician continuity, and more pressing priorities explained the lack of follow-up care. Despite a program to provide health care at no cost to patients, lack of insurance and worries about cost are described as barriers to adequate follow-up for hypertension treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, USA.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Mouton
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beaudouin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troutman
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D014505:Urban Population