A SURVEY ON LINE OF MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION BY PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PHYSICIANS IN PUDUDCHERRY

Hypertension is one of the most important public health problems globally. If the blood pressure is effectively controlled, many of the disastrous complications of hypertension such as myocardial infarction, stroke, kidney failure, heart failure, and death can be prevented or delayed. Patients usually attend the family physicians first for any illness they are suffering, including hypertension. Hence, family physicians who are primary care providers play a major role in the management of hypertension. A survey based on a validated questionnaire was conducted among primary care physicians of Puducherry to assess their current knowledge regarding investigations and pharmacotherapy of hypertension and associated comorbid diseases. Eighty, one primary care physicians, responded. Though, more than 53% of primary care physician favored fundus examination, lipid profile and electrocardiogram as essential investigations, urine for microalbuminuria was favored only by 11.11% of physicians. It is noteworthy that more than 82% of primary care physicians are aware that methyldopa should be the drug of choice for pregnancy-induced hypertension. However, more than 76% of primary care physicians preferred atenolol as an essential drug for hypertension. As beta-blockers, especially atenolol, are no more considered as the first line of drugs in hypertension, there is a need to update the knowledge of current management of hypertension by primary care physicians. From the present survey, it is felt that continuing medical education program on hypertension stressing the importance of assessment of microalbuminuria, fundus examination, lipid profile, electrocardiogram and use of beta blockers should be arranged for primary care physicians so that effective management of hypertension by them can reduce the mortality and morbidity in hypertensive patients significantly.