Four-year experience in a hypertension control program. Operation aspects.

Four-year experience with a hypertension control program in Medellín, Colombia, is reported. A simple and reproducible model is presented to be given mainly by general practitioners with follow-up care delegated to well-trained practical nurses. The model has proved efficient in avoiding dropouts and obtaining lower blood pressure readings. Survival and compliance curves indicate that both are affected for the whole length of the follow-up period. In particular, periodical evaluation allows better compliance rates. Paramedical personnel participation and educational activities are the most important strategies for improving compliance.