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Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: September 26, 2018
Decision analysis for newly diagnosed hypertensive patients: a qualitative investigation
Marjorie C Weiss1, Alan A Montgomery, Tom Fahey
1Division of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol, Cotham House, Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 6JL, UK. marjorie.weiss@bristol.ac.uk
Abstract:
This study adopted a qualitative approach to explore patients' views on the usefulness of a decision analytic decision aid (DA). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients who had been recruited for a factorial randomised controlled trial of two decision aids. Issues investigated included respondents' attitudes to information, their views on the nature of their relationship with their general practitioner (GP) (paternalistic, shared or consumerist), the ease of use and potential wider application of the computerised decision aid and its influence upon their decision-making about whether or not to begin anti-hypertensive treatment. Views on the decision aid were favourable. For the majority, the decision aid appeared to confirm and/or clarify their stated preferences towards medicine-taking. Occasionally it could provoke a major shift in a respondent's attitude to medicine-taking, while in a few it had no discernible effect. While views on the decision aid were favourable, it was difficult to determine whether this was due to the individualised cardiovascular risk information it provided or the decision analytic process itself.
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Special considerations while measuring blood pressure
Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.
Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring
Several factors...