Abstract

Aim of the study is a comprehensive clinical-epidemiological description of the prevalence of arterial hypertension and diabetes among primary care patients along with an assessment of doctor's recognition rates and prescription behaviour. The paper describes methods and design of the study and provides background information on the sampling process, instruments used as well as characteristics of doctors and patients. The study is based on a nationally representative sample of 1,912 primary care doctors and 45,000 patients that attended the doctors' office on the target days. The patients were also characterized by laboratory tests. The first stage of study consisted of a comprehensive description of the doctors' characteristics in terms of psychosocial, qualification- and provider aspects as well as attitudes towards hypertension and diabetes and their management. In the second stage all patients completed a questionnaire to describe their health behaviour and attitudes as well as the treatment history and therapy. In the third stage all patients were characterized by their doctors in terms of their diagnostic status and their past and current interventions.