Table 1 Study outcomes

 Perceived knowledge of home BP target

“Do you know your personal BP treatment target?”

Yes or No

 Able to report correct home BP target

“What is your personal BP treatment target?” (___/___mmHg.)

The home BP target was considered adequate if it was reported to be < 135/85 mmHg (diabetics < 135/75 mmHg).

 Home BP target set

Mentioned in the checklist (intervention group) or in electric health record (control group).

Yes, if any written target was found.

 Correctly set home BP target

Mentioned in the checklist (intervention group) or in electric health record (control group).

The BP target was considered adequate if it was set at < 135/85 mmHg (< 135/75 mmHg for diabetics).

 Perceived understanding of the pharmacodynamics of the medication

“Do you know how the medication prescribed to you works?”

Yes or No

 Perceived knowledge about potential side effects of the medication

“Do you know the typical side effects of the antihypertensive medication prescribed to you?”

Yes or No

 Patients reporting to have received written information on the medication

“Did you receive written information on the antihypertensive medication during the physician’s appointment?”

Yes or No

 Patients reporting to have received written guidance on home BP measurements

“Did you receive written guidance on how to carry out blood pressure measurements at home?”

Yes or No

 Perceived uncertainty about the medication

“Did you have any questions about the medication that were left unanswered?”

Yes or No

 Perceived necessity of antihypertensive medication

“How necessary do you find the antihypertensive medication for your elevated blood pressure?”

11-point numerical rating scale (0 = not necessary at all, 10 = very necessary).

 Perceived quality of consultation

“How well did you find that the consultation (including initiation of medication) went in general?”

11-point numerical rating scale (0 = very bad, 10 = very good).

 Perceived degree of difficulty of starting antihypertensive medication

“How easy or difficult do you find the start and use of antihypertensive medication?”

11-point numerical rating scale (0 = very difficult, 10 = very easy).

 Perceived degree of patient-centeredness

“Do you think you were able to take part in decision-making sufficiently during the physician’s consultation?”

Yes or No

 Agreement on the next appointment

“Did you arrange the next appointment with your treating physician to evaluate if the medication is suitable and sufficient?”

Yes or No

 Perceived self-confidence for successful treatment

“Do you believe that the drug treatment of hypertension will succeed?”

Yes or No

 Perceived knowledge about how to act in case of medication side effects

“Do you know how to act if you get medication side effects?”

Yes or No

 Perceived knowledge about how to act in case that BP target is not reached

“Do you know how to act if your blood pressure target is not reached?”

Yes or No