Hypertension guideline adherence of private practitioners and primary health care physicians in Pretoria

Background: Hypertension remains a healthcare problem in South Africa. When prescribing evidence-based, cost-effective anti-hypertensive treatment, guideline adherence is essential. The Joint National Committee's Sixth Report (JNC VI) built its evidence-based review on the outcome of clinical t...

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Main Author: S. Ernst
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2005-04-01
Series:South African Family Practice
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Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/187
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author S. Ernst
author_facet S. Ernst
author_sort S. Ernst
collection DOAJ
description Background: Hypertension remains a healthcare problem in South Africa. When prescribing evidence-based, cost-effective anti-hypertensive treatment, guideline adherence is essential. The Joint National Committee's Sixth Report (JNC VI) built its evidence-based review on the outcome of clinical trials. The objective of this study was to assess the hypertension guideline adherence of general practitioners in private practice and of primary health care physicians in an academic government hospital setup in Pretoria, using the JNC VI guidelines. Methods: A survey was conducted on a random sample of 240 general practitioners in Pretoria and on 35 primary health care physicians working in the outpatient departments of the Pretoria Academic, Kalafong and Mamelodi hospitals. Results: The survey showed that private practitioners and primary health care physicians do not follow the JNC VI guidelines when treating hypertensive patients. Physicians in both study populations do not adhere to the guidelines when treating hypertensive patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), previous myocardial infarction (MI) and renal disease. Even so, most doctors correctly prescribe angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors when treating congestive cardiac failure (CCF) and diabetic nephropathy. Conclusions: This study indicates the need to educate physicians in both private and public setup regarding the value of prescribing cost-effective anti-hypertensive medication, based on evidence from clinical trials.
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spelling doaj-art-0fdffce3a4164c1fb8bb191dc3d2b3482025-08-20T03:46:57ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042005-04-0147310.1080/20786204.2005.10873202186Hypertension guideline adherence of private practitioners and primary health care physicians in PretoriaS. ErnstBackground: Hypertension remains a healthcare problem in South Africa. When prescribing evidence-based, cost-effective anti-hypertensive treatment, guideline adherence is essential. The Joint National Committee's Sixth Report (JNC VI) built its evidence-based review on the outcome of clinical trials. The objective of this study was to assess the hypertension guideline adherence of general practitioners in private practice and of primary health care physicians in an academic government hospital setup in Pretoria, using the JNC VI guidelines. Methods: A survey was conducted on a random sample of 240 general practitioners in Pretoria and on 35 primary health care physicians working in the outpatient departments of the Pretoria Academic, Kalafong and Mamelodi hospitals. Results: The survey showed that private practitioners and primary health care physicians do not follow the JNC VI guidelines when treating hypertensive patients. Physicians in both study populations do not adhere to the guidelines when treating hypertensive patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), previous myocardial infarction (MI) and renal disease. Even so, most doctors correctly prescribe angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors when treating congestive cardiac failure (CCF) and diabetic nephropathy. Conclusions: This study indicates the need to educate physicians in both private and public setup regarding the value of prescribing cost-effective anti-hypertensive medication, based on evidence from clinical trials.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/187hypertensionguidelinesadherence
spellingShingle S. Ernst
Hypertension guideline adherence of private practitioners and primary health care physicians in Pretoria
South African Family Practice
hypertension
guidelines
adherence
title Hypertension guideline adherence of private practitioners and primary health care physicians in Pretoria
title_full Hypertension guideline adherence of private practitioners and primary health care physicians in Pretoria
title_fullStr Hypertension guideline adherence of private practitioners and primary health care physicians in Pretoria
title_full_unstemmed Hypertension guideline adherence of private practitioners and primary health care physicians in Pretoria
title_short Hypertension guideline adherence of private practitioners and primary health care physicians in Pretoria
title_sort hypertension guideline adherence of private practitioners and primary health care physicians in pretoria
topic hypertension
guidelines
adherence
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/187
work_keys_str_mv AT sernst hypertensionguidelineadherenceofprivatepractitionersandprimaryhealthcarephysiciansinpretoria