[Education of hypertensive patients (from the experience with diabetic patients)]

The education of patients with arterial hypertension is a prerequisite to their co-operation in the daily management of their disease. It probably improves their compliance with the treatment prescribed and the quality of the results obtained in terms of blood pressure levels. The experience acquired in the education of diabetic patients supports this view. It started in Europe more than 10 years ago and its results begin to be evaluated. Its principles, means and objectives are summarized and illustrated here. Based on their experience but avoiding undue assimilation, the authors, who are diabetologists, are offering a first list of objectives in the education of hypertensive patients. This list is certainly not imperative or exhaustive; it should be regarded, at best, as incentive.