title: Measuring adherence to practice guidelines for the management of hypertension: an evaluation of the literature.
abstract: Adherence to practice guidelines is frequently used as a measure of quality of care. Numerous studies have evaluated physician adherence to hypertension guidelines by prescription data, physician survey data, or medical record review. However, most have methodological limitations that might underestimate physician adherence. Accurate and meaningful characterization of adherence rests on evaluation of varied components of hypertension care, use of explicit validated performance measures, incorporation of implicit and explicit review, and linkage of process measures to blood pressure outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Milchak
authors.forename: Barry L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ardery
mesh_terms: D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic