Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate readability of eye drop labels and accurate recall of prescription instructions in a glaucoma population.
Methods: :
A hospital-based, cross-sectional study. A trained, interviewer examined patient ability to read standard and larger font medication labels. A questionnaire was administered to ascertain accurate recall of prescribed eye drops. Clinical information was obtained through independent chart review. Glaucoma severity was classified according to the Glaucoma Staging System. Main Outcome Measure(s): Ability to read prescribed medication labels and accurately recall treatment regime was compared with glaucoma severity and the number of eye drops.
Results: :
200 glaucoma patients were recruited (96.2% response), aged 45-90 years. 14% of glaucoma patients were unable to read standard pharmacy labels. 32% of the patients were not able to accurately recall the type of drops or prescribed frequency of instillation. An inability to read standard labels was associated with a threefold reduction in the likelihood of accurate medication recall (95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.40, 7.66, p<0.05). Patients with 3 or more types of eye drops were 5 times less likely to recall their medications (95% CI, 0.07, 0.57, p<0.05).
Conclusions: :
Inability to read or recall prescribed eye drops was associated with glaucoma severity and the number of prescribed eye drops. These factors may impact significantly on patients' adherence to glaucoma medications.
Keywords: low vision • reading • vision and action