EC Cardiology

Introduction and Aim: Hypertension is a major public health concern worldwide. General practitioners provide a large proportion of the primary care management of hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess physicians' knowledge of the recommendations for the management of essential hypertension.

Methods: The study was carried out in the form of a declarative cross-sectional survey of general practitioners in the urban commune of Antananarivo over a 3-month period from March 2016 to May 2016.

Results: The rate of participation of doctors in a post-graduate course or congress on hypertension was 44% in the last 3 years. The definition of hypertension was not in line with the recommendations in 58%. Initial systematic clinical and paraclinical check-ups were performed by 44.5% of the doctors. Treatment was lifelong for 67% of participants. Physicians' adherence to the recommendations depended on the year of experience, the place of practice and, above all, on attendance of continuing education courses.

Conclusion: The recommendations on essential hypertension in adults were fairly well known and poorly followed. There is a need for greater awareness among physicians of the recommendations designed to reflect clinical reality.

Keywords: Essential Hypertension; General Practitioner; State of Knowledge; Recommendation

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