Abstract
Purpose: :
Difficulty in eyedrop instillation and insufficient monthly supply of medication are common reasons leading to poor compliance to treatment in glaucoma and OHT patients. We evaluated the efficiency of the Xal-ease® delivery aiding device in glaucoma or OHT patients with monthly overconsumption of Xalatan® (latanoprost) or Xalacom® (latanoprost-timolol combination).
Methods: :
All individuals recruited for the study had documented use of 1.5 bottles or more per month, according to pharmacologic database records. Each participant received the Xal-ease® delivery aid (Pfizer Inc, Manufacturer- Scandinavian Health LTD, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.) free of charge. Training for its proper use was given initially and repeated in subsequent visits as needed (up to 3 times). Evaluation questionnaires regarding patients’ satisfaction from Xal-ease® use were filled out 4 times throughout the study period (1 year).
Results: :
37 individuals, 18 males and 19 females, were recruited for the study. Mean age was 71+11 years. 26 patients (70%) admitted to having difficulties in drop application. The median time required for demonstration on first visit was 8 minutes (range 2-29 minutes). 56% of patients required a second demonstration. Altogether the median time spent on training a patient throughout the study was 13 minutes (range 2-55 minutes). After 3 months of experience, 96% of the patients reported the device ensured controlled delivery of one drop at a time and was user friendly, 92% reported they would consider buying the device and 76% advocated the use of such a device for their other eyedrops as well. These rates were slightly and non-significantly decreased after one-year experience with the device (88%, 82% and 71%, respectively).
Conclusions: :
Training patients on proper use of the Xal-ease® device is time consuming, may need repeated demonstrations but appears to have a positive effect on patients’ compliance with treatment.
Clinical Trial: :
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01125306
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques