Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Appraisal of the knowledge of hypertensive patients and assessment of the role of the pharmacists in the management of hypertension: results of a regional survey

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 19, pages 577–584 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to appraise the knowledge which the patients have about their hypertension, and to assess the knowledge and involvement of pharmacists in the management of the hypertensive patient. All the pharmacies in the Poitou-Charentes area were invited both to participate in a training session about arterial hypertension and asked to fill in a pharmacist's questionnaire. Furthermore, each participant was required to submit a patient's questionnaire to 20 consecutive hypertensives. A total of 104 pharmacies and 1015 hypertensive patients participated in the survey. In all, 88% of the patients (n=893) were aware of their blood pressure (BP) figures, but 68% (349/515) considered themselves wrongly, to be normalized; 39% (n=350) only had BP figures <140/90 mmHg. They said they had been poorly informed about recommended lifestyle changes. In all, 18% (n=185) were equipped with an automatic device. A total of 77% (n=779) were able to give the names of their drugs without the help of the pharmacist. Treatment-related unwanted effects were reported by 8% of the patients (n=79). Only 18% (n=29) of the pharmacists were able to provide a correct definition of hypertension. Most of them thought hypertension was well controlled in the general population and considered that both tolerance of and compliance with antihypertensive treatment were satisfactory. They could most often (80%, n=135) supply a SBPM device, but 58 (36%) only were able to provide relevant advice regarding the recommended procedures. In conclusion, The BP goals and the lifestyle modifications are poorly known by the hypertensives. Pharmacists' knowledge is frequently wrong and should be improved by appropriate training programmes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Girerd X et al. Estimation du nombre des sujets traités pour une HTA, un diabète ou une hyperlipidémie en France : étude FLAHS 2002. Arch Mal Cœur 2003; 96: 750–753.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Marques-Vidal P et al. Sex differences in awareness and control of hypertension in France. J Hypertens 1997; 15: 1205–1210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Chamontin B et al. Prevalence, treatment, and control of hypertension in the French population: data from a survey on high blood pressure in general practice, 1994. Am J Hypertens 1998; 11: 759–762.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lang T et al. Epidemiology Group of the Societe Francaise d'Hypertension Arterielle and the IHPAF Working Physicians Group. Prevalence and therapeutic control of hypertension in 30,000 subjects in the workplace. Hypertension 2001; 38: 449–454.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kjellgren KI et al. Hypertensive patients' knowledge of high blood pressure. Scand J Prim Health Care 1997; 15: 188–192.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ashida T et al. Relationship between home blood pressure measurement and medication compliance and name recognition of antihypertensive drugs. Hypertens Res 2000; 23: 21–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bortolotto LA et al. Feasibility and importance of self-monitoring in patients over 75 years old. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss 1999; 92: 1159–1162.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Wizner B et al. Normal blood pressure values as perceived by normotensive and hypertensive subjects. J Hum Hypertens 2003; 17: 87–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Alexander M, Gordon NP, Davis CC, Chen RS . Patient knowledge and awareness of hypertension is suboptimal: results from a large health maintenance organization. J Clin Hypertens 2003; 5: 254–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Mulrow CD et al. Dieting to reduce body weight for controlling hypertension in adults. Nurs Times 2001; 97: 42.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Whelton SP, Chin A, Xin X, He J . Effect of aerobic exercise on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Ann Intern Med 2002; 136: 493–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Xin X et al. Effects of alcohol reduction on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Hypertension 2001; 38: 1112–1117.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cutler JA, Folleman D, Alexander PS . Randomised control trials of sodium reduction: an ovierview. Am J Clin Nutr 1997; 65(Suppl 2): 643S–651S.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Havas S, Roccella EJ, Lenfant C . Reducing the public health burden from elevated blood pressure levels in the United States by lowering intake of dietary sodium. Am J Public Health 2004; 94: 19–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Appel LJ et al. Effects of comprehensive lifestyle modification on blood pressure control: main results of the PREMIER clinical trial. JAMA 2003; 289: 2083–2093.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Appel LJ et al. A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med 1997; 336: 117–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Valente CM et al. Health promotion: physicians' beliefs, attitudes, and practices. Am J Prev Med 1986; 2: 82–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Kushner RF . Barriers to providing nutrition counseling by physicians: a survey of primary care practitioners. Prev Med 1995; 24: 546–552.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wechsler H et al. The physician's role in health promotion revisited — a survey of primary care practitioners. N Engl J Med 1996; 334: 996–998.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Airaksinen M, Ahonen R, Enlund H . Drug information from pharmacies: desire for more spontaneous information. Med Care 1993; 31: 846–850.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ridout S, Waters WE, George CF . Knowledge of and attitudes to medicines in the Southampton community. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1986; 21: 701–712.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Enlund H, Vainio K, Wallenius S, Poston JW . Adverse drug effects and the need for drug information. Med Care 1991; 29: 558–564.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Lisper L, Isacson D, Sjoden PO, Bingefors K . Medicated hypertensive patients' views and experience of information and communication concerning antihypertensive drugs. Patient Educ Couns 1997; 32: 147–155.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bailey BJ et al. Hypertension treatment compliance: what do patients want to know about their medications? Prog Cardiovasc Nurs 1997; 12: 23–28.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Caro JJ et al. Effect of initial drug choice on persistence with antihypertensive therapy: the importance of actual practice data. CMAJ 1999; 160: 41–46.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Bloom BS . Continuation of initial antihypertensive medication after 1 year of therapy. Clin Ther 1998; 20: 671–681.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Dusing R, Weisser B, Mengden T, Vetter H . Changes in antihypertensive therapy — the role of adverse effects and compliance. Blood Press 1998; 7: 313–315.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Gascon JJ et al. Why hypertensive patients do not comply with the treatment: results from a qualitative study. Fam Pract 2004; 21: 125–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Asmar R, Zanchetti A . Guidelines for the use of self-blood pressure monitoring: a summary report of the first international consensus conference. J Hypertens 2000; 18: 493–508.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. 2003 European Society of hypertension — European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. J Hypertens 2003; 21: 1011–1053.

  31. Stergiou GS et al. Home monitoring of blood pressure: limited value in general practice. J Hum Hypertens 1996; 10: 219–223.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Tyson MJ, McElduff P . Self blood pressure monitoring — a questionnaire study: response, requirement, training, support-group popularity and recommendations. J Hum Hypertens 2003; 17: 51–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. O'Brien E et al. Blood pressure measuring devices: recommendations of the European Society of Hypertension. BMJ 2001; 322: 531–536.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Cuspidi C et al. Improvement of patients' knowledge by a single educational meeting on hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 2001; 15: 57–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Palumbo G et al. Hypertension and patient education: can a booklet change anything? (Abstract). Am J Hypertens 2000; 13: 295A–298A.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Saito I, Saruta T . Effect of education through a periodic newsletter on persistence with antihypertensive therapy. Hypertens Res 2003; 26: 159–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Earle KA et al. A physician–pharmacist model for the surveillance of blood pressure in the community: a feasibility study. J Hum Hypertens 2001; 15: 529–533.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Carter BL, Zillich AJ, Elliott WJ . How pharmacists can assist physicians with controlling blood pressure. J Clin Hypertens 2003; 5: 31–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Chabot I, Moisan J, Gegoire JP, Milot A . Pharmacist intervention program for control of hypertension. Ann Pharmacother 2003; 37: 1186–1193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Cote I et al. A pharmacy-based health promotion programme in hypertension: cost–benefit analysis. Pharmacoeconomics 2003; 21: 415–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the pharmacists of the Poitou-Charentes area for their participation in this survey. We thank Etienne Richard and Michel Cuenot from Astra Zeneca for their logistic help in organizing the training sessions. We are also indebted to Roselyn Mazet for her linguistic assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Institut Universitaire de Santé Publique, Poitiers, France

    S Ragot, G Bouche & J Guillemain

  2. Centre de Recherche Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La milétrie, Poitiers, France

    S Ragot

  3. Centre de Prévention des Maladies Cardiaques et Vasculaires, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La milétrie, Poitiers, France

    P Sosner & D Herpin

Authors
  1. S Ragot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P Sosner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G Bouche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J Guillemain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D Herpin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S Ragot.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ragot, S., Sosner, P., Bouche, G. et al. Appraisal of the knowledge of hypertensive patients and assessment of the role of the pharmacists in the management of hypertension: results of a regional survey. J Hum Hypertens 19, 577–584 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001859

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001859

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links