Objective: To evaluate the benefits of using computer-based interventions to provide patient education to individuals with hypertension. Methods: MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, ERIC, EMBASE, and PsychINFO were searched from 1995 to April 2009 using keywords related to "computers," "hypertension," "education," and "clinical trial." Additional studies were included from the Cochrane Library and hand-searching of the references. Results: The search strategy identified 776 articles, of which 10 met the selection criteria. These 10 articles represented 5 unique projects. Two studies were software-based and three used the internet. Studies assessed the effect of computer-based interventions on knowledge, self-efficacy, self-care behaviours, and percentage of patients with blood pressure control. No study was able to demonstrate that a computer-based intervention was sufficient to result in permanent changes in health behaviours, although intermediate health outcomes such as knowledge and self-efficacy were improved. Conclusion: Computer-based interventions can be an effective means of changing certain health behaviours, but current research shows that these interventions must be used in concert with provider-based health education in order to create lasting changes in health behaviours. In order for the full benefits of computer-based interventions to be realized, these programmes must be fully integrated into general healthcare delivery. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)