How accurately do primary health care professionals use cardiovascular risk tables in the management of hypertension?

It has been suggested that use of cardiovascular risk tables in hypertensiv e patients might improve clinical management As part of a randomised contro lled trial, we evaluated the accuracy of health professionals' use of the N ew Zealand risk tables in primary care consultations. Chance-corrected agre ement between health professionals' assessments of absolute risk was only m oderate (weighted kappa = 0.56 at the 12-month follow-up). Inaccurate use o f cardiovascular risk tables may be a barrier to effective implementation o f research evidence in the management of hypertension.