title: Patients' beliefs and attitudes towards hypertension and its treatment: a rural practice pilot study.
abstract: An action research study was carried out to comprehend reasons for poor blood pressure control and to explore ways to disperse commonly-held myths in a rural community in northern Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Registered patients under antihypertensive treatment, with a routine follow-up appointment in a primary health care center, were surveyed with the use of an original questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' satisfaction with blood pressure management did not reflect actual control within the targeted levels, whereas only 4 out of 10 patients had good levels of blood pressure. Patients with a lower educational level stated that a morning pill should not be taken before a laboratory blood test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary health care providers are urged to view hypertension through their patients' "eyes" in order to provide more effective patient-centered care.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klinis
authors.forename: Zoi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tsimtsiou
authors.forename: Adelais
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markaki
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galanakis
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Symvoulakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012424:Rural Population
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents