Attitudes and Approaches to Decision Making About Antihypertensive Treatment in Elderly Patients

Our data indicate that many patients prefer to delegate the final decision to their physician, although most want to receive extensive information. Although the decision to treat belongs to the physician, initial acceptance of antihypertensive therapy does not imply that patients really understand and adhere to it. True understanding and acceptance of treatment requires attention to patients' preferences and repeated explanations during follow-up.