Table 1.

Background characteristics of the patient observers

Background characteristics	Patient observers with hypertension (N = 108)
Gender
Female	73 (68 %)
Male	35 (32 %)
Age
< 40	2 (2 %)
40 – 49	12 (11 %)
50 – 59	46 (43 %)
60 – 69	39 (36 %)
70 – 79	9 (8 %)
Education level
Primary education	2 (2 %)
Secondary education	59 (54.5 %)
Third-level education	47 (43.5 %)
Employment
Retired	35 (32 %)
Employed	31 (29 %)
Self-employed	5 (5 %)
Other (student, housewife, job seeker)	37 (34 %)
Native background
Dutch	96 (89 %)
First generation migrant	6 (5.5 %)
Second generation migrant	6 (5.5 %)
Health
Using medication for hypertension	81 (75 %)
Comorbidity other chronic disease	50 (46 %)
Health care use
Contact with GP in last two months	76 (70 %)
Contact with medical specialist in past year	72 (67 %)