[Patient reporting of self-measurement results: survey Autoprov]

Nowadays, the benefits and indications of blood pressure self-measurement are well-established and codified by clinical practice recommendations. However, in routine practice, one aspect is still unclear: the way patients report to their physician the results of the measurements taken at home. Few data are available in scientific publications in this respect and the recommended protocols are not adhered to in practice. In a practice survey, 4538 patients instructed to perform blood pressure self-measurement by their general practitioner were asked to report the results on a preprinted sheet and offered the possibility to use the website automesure.com to calculate their average and report the results to their physician. Most patients (81%) were able to provide on a preprinted sheet the results of six measurements per day (three in the morning and three in the evening) on a three-day period (18 measurements in total), and 40% followed the recommendation to use Internet to calculate the average. However, only 12% of patients approximately, significantly younger, were able to use a dedicated application program. As for physicians, they were not ready overall to provide their email address to establish an interactive relationship with their patients.