Abstract
Purpose: :
Patient compliance to glaucoma medication is one of the major challenge in glaucoma management. This study evaluates the impact of a new patient-oriented multi-axial glaucoma teaching program on patients' compliance to their medication.
Methods: :
A retrospective pharmacological study was conducted on 64 consecutive glaucoma patients who attended the glaucoma teaching program. Data was collected using standardized pharmacological chart report from patients' pharmacies. Rates of glaucoma eyedrops prescription refill were calculated and compared 6 months prior to 6 months after attending the program using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Multivariable analysis were also done on different baseline factors to identify correlating factors.
Results: :
The mean age was 66.3 ± 10.5 years, with a ratio of 50% female and 50% male. On average, patients had been on glaucoma medication for 8.5 years (SD 7.9 years). 36% were on 1 eyedrop, 42% on 2 and 22% on 3 or more eyedrops. A statistically significant increase of 22.3% (p = 0.001) of the rate of prescription refills over the 6 months period after the teaching program was observed. Gender, age, duration of treatment and number of glaucoma medication were not significant predictors of the outcome.
Conclusions: :
Our multi-axial patient-oriented glaucoma teaching program seems to favor an increase in glaucoma eyedrops compliance over a 6 months period. Further studies need to be done on larger groups of patients, with longer follow-up, to determine the duration of the effect of the program and to link prescription refill to real patient compliance.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: health care delivery/economics/manpower • quality of life