Patient assessment of self-measurement of blood pressure: results of a telephone survey in Germany

OBJECTIVE: To obtain information on the adoption of self-measurement of blood pressure by hypertensives and their attending physicians. METHODS: Callers to the Cardiovascular Hotline Heidelberg revealing themselves to have high blood pressure were interviewed about self-recording of blood pressure. RESULTS: Among the callers about 70% practised self-measurement. Half of them bought a device on their own initiative, one-third on recommendation or prescription by their physician. A quarter of those practising the technique were introduced to it by experienced personnel and a comparable number were adequately informed about the aims and objectives. Nevertheless, more than half of those practising self-measurement claimed to be coping better with the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that self-monitoring is widely practised by hypertensives in Germany. In contrast to this finding, too few physicians have adopted home-recording as a useful tool in the treatment of hypertension.