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Effects of labeling patients as prehypertensive.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Viera, AJ; Lingley, K; Esserman, D
Published in: J Am Board Fam Med
2010

BACKGROUND: Labeling patients as hypertensive has some negative effects. The effects of being labeled as having prehypertension are unknown. We examined whether the label of prehypertension exerts a negative effect on patients' perceived health and whether it motivates people to adopt lifestyle recommendations to prevent hypertension. METHODS: We randomized 97 prehypertensive adults to either a labeling message or a generic (no label) message. At 3 months we assessed self-reports of change in perceived health and reported adoption of lifestyle recommendations to try to prevent hypertension. RESULTS: Except for more participants with asthma in the label group, the 2 groups were similar at baseline. Among the 70 participants who provided 3-month follow-up data, 18 people (56%) in the no-label group and 22 people (58%) in the label group reported their health as the same; 13 people (41%) in the no label group and 16 people (42%) in the label group reported health as better; and 1 person (in no label group) reported his health as worse. At 3 months there were no differences in reports of changing eating habits (risk ratio [RR], 1.06; 95% CI, 0.86-1.31), cutting down on salt (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.84-1.15), reducing alcohol intake (RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.80-1.90), or exercising (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.91-1.51) to try to prevent hypertension. CONCLUSION: Being labeled as prehypertensive seems to exert neither harmful nor helpful effects.

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Published In

J Am Board Fam Med

DOI

EISSN

1558-7118

Publication Date

2010

Volume

23

Issue

5

Start / End Page

571 / 583

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Prehypertension
  • Motivation
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Behavior
  • General & Internal Medicine
 

Citation

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Viera, A. J., Lingley, K., & Esserman, D. (2010). Effects of labeling patients as prehypertensive. J Am Board Fam Med, 23(5), 571–583. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2010.05.100047
Viera, Anthony J., Kara Lingley, and Denise Esserman. “Effects of labeling patients as prehypertensive.J Am Board Fam Med 23, no. 5 (2010): 571–83. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2010.05.100047.
Viera AJ, Lingley K, Esserman D. Effects of labeling patients as prehypertensive. J Am Board Fam Med. 2010;23(5):571–83.
Viera, Anthony J., et al. “Effects of labeling patients as prehypertensive.J Am Board Fam Med, vol. 23, no. 5, 2010, pp. 571–83. Pubmed, doi:10.3122/jabfm.2010.05.100047.
Viera AJ, Lingley K, Esserman D. Effects of labeling patients as prehypertensive. J Am Board Fam Med. 2010;23(5):571–583.

Published In

J Am Board Fam Med

DOI

EISSN

1558-7118

Publication Date

2010

Volume

23

Issue

5

Start / End Page

571 / 583

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Prehypertension
  • Motivation
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Behavior
  • General & Internal Medicine