Improving management of hypertension in general practice: a randomised controlled trial of feedback derived from electronic patient data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although absolute risk of death associated with raised blood pressure increases with age, the benefits of treatment are greater in older patients. However, fewer patients in this group are identified, treated, and controlled.

Aim

To evaluate the impact of the provision of different levels of feedback on identification, treatment, and control of older patients with hypertension.

Design of study

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Fifty-two Scottish general practices.

Method

Practices were randomly allocated to either control (n = 19), audit only feedback (n = 16), or audit plus risk feedback, prioritising patients by absolute risk (n = 17). Electronic data were extracted from practice computer systems annually from 1999 to 2001 and used to dev

SUBMITTER: Mitchell E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1463214 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature