OBJECTIVES: In 2007 the Work Group of Cardarelli Hospital (Naples, Italy) developed a therapeutic education program to reduce blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension through a better adherence to pharmacological and non pharmacological treatment. The program was funded by a grant from Italian Agency of Drugs (AIFA). The activity  involved General Practitioners (GPs) from Campania region METHODS: The study was an experimental  controlled trial with the enrolment of 2329 (1139 Intervention and 1190 Controls). Group Intervention (I) patients participated to 3 educational sessions (two focus group and one role play) respectively 2, 4 and 9 months after the recruitment. Group Control (C) patients received usual care. Blood pressure values were registered at the baseline and after 12 months. Focus groups are qualitative interviews with a small number of people brought together to discuss a host of topics under the guide of a "moderator". Role play is a simulation that reflects a situation found in the real world.The aim of role play is to learn how to perform the instructions and how to best handle a situation by practicing and interacting with people who share the same condition. Univariate General Linear models (GLM) were used to compare mean variation in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP;DBP) between groups (Intervention and control) after adjusting for the covariates measured at baseline. RESULTS: Adjusted mean reduction of SBP was-1.6mmHG 95% C.I [-6.3mmHG ; +3.1mmHG] in the intervention group and +0.8mmHG; 95% C.I [-3.9mmHG ; +5.4mmHG] in the control group. The different behavior of the two groups led to a significant treatment effect (Intervention vs Control) equal to-2.4mmHG,95% C.I [-3.4 mmHG ; -1.3mmHG]. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that a patient-oriented approach is a powerful tool for reaching better blood pressure control and underlying the essential role of  patients involvement in the management of their care.