Understanding Your Patients' Perceptions of Hypertension

Understanding your patients' perceptions of hypertension and their willingness to make changes can help you tailor effective and culture-specific recommendtions. Asking these questions may help:

• What does high blood pressure mean to you?
• What has been your experience with high blood pressure?
• How has it changed your life (positively or negatively)?
• What has made it easier or harder for you to take your medication?
• What advice would you give to others with high blood pressure?

Kleinman A, Eisenberg L, Good B. Culture, illness, and care: clinical lessons from anthropologic and cross-cultural research. Ann Intern Med 1978;88(2):251-8.