May 2006
Volume 47, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2006
Study of the Determinants of Glaucoma Treatment Compliance
F. Djafari; J. Lachaine; P. Harasymowycz; D. Desjardins; M.R. Lesk
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • F. Djafari
    Department of Ophthalmology, Maisonneuve–Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, PQ, Canada
  • J. Lachaine
    Department of Ophthalmology, Maisonneuve–Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, PQ, Canada
    Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montreal, PQ, Canada
  • P. Harasymowycz
    Department of Ophthalmology, Maisonneuve–Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, PQ, Canada
  • D. Desjardins
    Department of Ophthalmology, Maisonneuve–Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, PQ, Canada
  • M.R. Lesk
    Department of Ophthalmology, Maisonneuve–Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, PQ, Canada
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  F. Djafari, None; J. Lachaine, None; P. Harasymowycz, Pfizer Canada, R; D. Desjardins, None; M.R. Lesk, Pfizer Canada, R.
  • Footnotes
    Support  This research was supported by a grant from Pfizer Canada Inc.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2006, Vol.47, 3387. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      User Alerts
      You are adding an alert for:
      Study of the Determinants of Glaucoma Treatment Compliance
      You will receive an email whenever this article is corrected, updated, or cited in the literature. You can manage this and all other alerts in My Account
      The alert will be sent to:
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation
      Citation

      F. Djafari, J. Lachaine, P. Harasymowycz, D. Desjardins, M.R. Lesk; Study of the Determinants of Glaucoma Treatment Compliance . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2006;47(13):3387.

      Download citation file:

      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
    • Get Permissions
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: : To estimate patients’ compliance with their glaucoma medications and identify potential determinants of non–compliance to glaucoma treatment.

Methods: : 200 patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension were interviewed about their glaucoma condition and treatment. After the visit, their ophthalmologist was asked to complete a brief assessment form. Data on drug utilization and medical services were extracted from the provincial drug program database.Patients were considered as compliant if they had received at least 75% of the quantity of medication required according to the recommended dosage for each medication

Results: : Data were available for 197 patients. 63.5% were female and the mean age (± standard deviation, SD) was 75.3 ± 8.6 years. The mean number of years of glaucoma treatment was 10.5 ± 9.1 years and the proportion of patients with treatment changes in previous year was 24.4%. Self–reported treatment compliance was 88.3%. According to physicians, 74.6% of patients were at least 75 %compliant. Based on utilization in drug database the proportion of patients who were at least 75% compliant to treatment was 65.0%. Among patients considered by physicians as non–compliant 54% (27/50) were non– compliant and among patients predicted as compliant 71.4% (105/147) were compliant (p=0.001, Chi–square). There was no significant difference in compliance according to age, gender, education and income. Hypertension (p=0.029), diabetes (p=0.016), ethnicity (p=0.042) and knowledge about glaucoma (p=0.000) were associated with compliance.

Conclusions: : The estimation of glaucoma treatment compliance based on utilization in a drug database is higher than compliance reported in previous studies. Physicians are able to predict with some significance which patients are compliant and non–compliant. Ethnicity, hypertension, diabetes and knowledge about glaucoma are significantly associated with compliance.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • intraocular pressure 
© 2006, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.Accept