Awareness of physicians in Jordan about the treatment of high blood pressure according to the seventh report of the Joint National Committee (JNC VII).
BACKGROUND
Control of blood pressure remains suboptimal worldwide. High rates of undiagnosed and untreated hypertensive patients raise the need of searching for the basis of this situation among prescribing physicians.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the awareness of medical residents and practicing physicians in Jordan about the treatment of high blood pressure according to the seventh report of the Joint National Committee (JNC VII).


METHODS
A written questionnaire was distributed to 200 physicians from different areas of Jordan during the period from November 2005 till February 2006. Recruitment of physicians in this study was in general, military, private hospitals and in clinics. A rigorously developed questionnaire on changes seen in JNC VII, target blood pressure goals, and the treatment of high blood pressure options was administered by trained medical personnel.


RESULTS
One hundred and forty five physicians (72.5%) consented to complete the questionnaire. The practices of recent graduates from medical school were not better than those of older graduates. As a general rule, physicians in Jordan under treat high blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings highlight the need for the revision of the teaching curricula in medical schools with regard to the management of hypertension, as well as the initiation of a widespread and intensive continuing medical education for all physicians involved in the management of patients with hypertension. Particular efforts are needed to encourage the use of low-cost thiazides and the use of angiotension converting enzyme inhibitors in heart failure patients and other compelling indications.
Al-Azzam
Sayer Ibrahim
SI
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. sayerazzam@yahoo.com
Najjar
Rula Basem
RB
Khader
Yousef Saleh
YS
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001364:Awareness; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004521:Educational Measurement; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration; D007597:Jordan; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors