COST ESTIMATION AND PHYSICIANS AWARENESS CONCERNING HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT - EXPERIENCE FROM PRIMARY-CARE CENTERS

Objectives: To assess the cost of management of hypertension, and the awareness of primary health care centres' physicians about aspects of its cost. Methods: A sample of primary health care centres registered hypertensive patients and all physicians working in these centres at A l-Khobar city, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia was chosen. The direct c ost of management of hypertension was calculated using a standard form ula. Primary health care physicians' knowledge about prevalence of hyp ertension, five commonly prescribed antihypertensive drugs and their c ost, and the cost of investigations used to assess hypertension, were recorded using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Results: The total cost of management of hypertension in the primary health car e centres was estimated as one million Saudi Riyals per year, of which 67% was contributed for by the cost of consultation and 17% and 16% b y the costs of drugs and investigations, respectively. Most physicians exhibited poor knowledge about the prevalence of hypertension, and li ttle awareness about the cost of commonly used antihypertensive drugs, and investigations. Conclusion: The cost of management of hypertensio n in the primary health care centres, in Al-Khobar city is high; while working physicians showed little awareness concerning the aspects of cost of the disease.