Awareness of hypertension guidelines in general practice: a pilot study in Lombardy.
BACKGROUND
An adequate knowledge of hypertension guidelines by primary care physicians is a fundamental step for the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in the general population. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a local survey in the northern area of Lombardy, the general practitioners' knowledge of the WHO/ISH guidelines.


METHODS
A 10-item mail questionnaire based on the 1999 WHO/ISH hypertension guidelines was sent to a sample of 280 primary care physicians. The number of answers in agreement with the guidelines was used as a measure of guidelines knowledge, that was considered adequate if a correct answer to 6 out of 10 questions, in addition to an adequate definition of hypertension, was provided.


RESULTS
The analysis was based on 83 returned questionnaires, that means a 29% response rate. Guidelines knowledge was adequate in 23.5% of the total study population and the mean score of correct answers was 5.5 points. A significant negative correlation (r = 0.27, p < 0.05) was observed between the mean score of knowledge and the physician's age.


CONCLUSIONS
In a sample of primary care physicians from a northern region of Italy, the hypertension guidelines knowledge is inadequate; the reasons and the extent of this poor awareness will require further studies.
Cuspidi
Cesare
C
Institute of Internal Medicine, Centro di Fisiologia Clinica e Ipertensione, University of Milan, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, Milan, Italy. dhipertensione@libero.it
Michev
Iassen
I
Severgnini
Barbara
B
Fusi
Veronica
V
Valerio
Cristiana
C
Meani
Stefano
S
Vaccarella
Alvaro
A
Palumbo
Gaetana
G
Muiesan
Maria Lorenza
ML
Magrini
Fabio
F
Zanchetti
Alberto
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D014944:World Health Organization