title: Better physician-patient communication; an important milestone in control of hypertension, a multicenter study from Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: Control of hypertension is an important cornerstone in prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to compare physician encounter score in patients with controlled and uncontrolled hypertension. It was conducted at three tertiary care hospitals in Karachi. Patients were categorized into controlled and uncontrolled hypertension based on their initial blood pressure readings on presentation. Primary outcome variable was control of hypertension and physician encounter score (a composite score of 12 item question) was the main candidate variable. Higher scores reflected favorable encounter with physician. Mean age of participants was 57.7 ± 12 years; 224 (50.1%) were men. Controlled hypertension was present in 72.3% (323) and uncontrolled hypertension was present in 27.4% (124). Mean physician encounter score in uncontrolled hypertensive was 7.25 ± 2.64 versus 7.83 ± 2.22 (p=0.02) in controlled hypertensive. Patient-physician encounter is an important milestone in control of hypertension in hypertensive patients and directly translates into better adherence to antihypertensives in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Aysha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi.
authors.forename: Faridah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bhamani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Aamir Hameed
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents