Some approaches to raising quality of treatment for arterial hypertension (experience of school for arterial hypertension patients)

Aim. To investigate involvement of patients into control of their pressure to improve quality of treatment for arterial hypertension (AH). Materials and methods. 134 hypertensive patients (76 females and 58 males) were inter-viewed Criteria of efficacy of AH control were ability and motivation of self-measurement of blood pressure and its maintenance at the optimal level. Results. For the past year, 40% of the patients measured pressure regularly (once a day or more frequently), 34% - 1-3 times a week, 9% - 1-3 times a month, 17% - rarely, mostly, males. Most of the patients controlled their pressure insufficiently. This is explained by "working pressure" (high in many cases) which was registered in most of the examinees. When part of the patients reached that working pressure they discontinued treatment. Conclusion. Involvement of hypertensive patients and members of their families into control of hypertension is a feasible and valuable method of improving quality of hypertension treatment.