Physician-patient racial concordance, continuity of care, and patterns of care for hypertension

Am J Public Health. 2005 Dec;95(12):2186-90. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2004.046177. Epub 2005 Oct 27.

Abstract

To assess the effects of physician-patient racial concordance and continuity of care on hypertension outcomes, we described patterns of care for hypertension; we used cross-tabulations and repeated measures (generalized estimating equations) analyses with panel survey data from elderly persons interviewed and examined in 1987 and 1990. Continuity of care was associated with recognition of hypertension, receipt of medication, and lower incidence of undetected hypertension. Physician race had little effect, but continuity is important for successful management of hypertension in older persons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Continuity of Patient Care*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • North Carolina / epidemiology
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Racial Groups*

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents