: It seems that computers have a favourable effect on the uptake and follow up of patients in hypertension management .
STUDY OBJECTIVE : To assess the effect of computers and computer-based clinical decision support systems on the  management of hypertension .
Delivery of care for hypertension.
To overcome shortcomings in the delivery of care for hypertension various approaches have been developed including a system whereby care of hypertension is shared in a formal manner between general practitioners and hospital specialists . The feasibility , acceptability and cost-effectiveness of a computerised model of shared care were investigated in three matched groups of patients attending hypertension clinics in Glasgow . Glasgow Blood Pressure Clinic attenders considered suitable for shared care by their consultants were r and omised to shared care ( n = 277 ) or continued clinic follow-up ; a further control group ( n = 277 ) was identified from an independent nurse-practitioner clinic . After 2 years of follow-up , feasibility was estimated by the proportion of patients who had undergone an adequate review ( blood pressure , serum creatinine and electrocardiograph ) ; acceptability to general practitioners and patients was assessed by question naires ; cost-effectiveness was calculated as the cost ( to National Health Service and patient ) per adequate review . The drop-out rate for shared care over 2 years was 3 % compared with 14 % for the outpatient clinic and 9 % for the nurse-practitioner clinic . In year 2 , rates of adequate review s were 82 % , 52 % and 75 % , respectively . Blood pressure control was similar in the groups . Of 297 general practitioners invited to participate , 85 % agreed and 68 % wished to continue participation after 2 years . About 50 % of shared care patients preferred this method of follow-up compared with their earlier experience of clinic attendance . Shared care was more cost-effective than either conventional or nurse-practitioner clinic follow-up , especially with respect to cost to the patient ; costs per adequate review ( pound sterling ) were 28.96 , 50.55 and 30.95 , respectively . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
: It seems that computers have a favourable effect on the uptake and follow up of patients in hypertension management .
STUDY OBJECTIVE : To assess the effect of computers and computer-based clinical decision support systems on the  management of hypertension .