Abstract
Purpose: :
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world, and adequate post–operative follow–up is an important determinant of surgical outcome. We sought to assess factors determining compliance with follow–up in a cataract surgical program in Nigeria.
Methods: :
Age, gender, pre and post–operative vision (one day) were recorded for participants in three free cataract surgical camps in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Compliance with follow–up at one month as directed by the physician after extra–capsular cataract extraction with IOL implantation was determined.
Results: :
Among 364 subjects (mean age = 61.1 +/– 13.8 years, 51% female), 43% (n = 154) presented for post–operative follow–up at one month. In multivariate models, compliance with one month follow–up was associated with worse post–operative day one vision (p = 0.04) and female gender (p = 0.02), but not with pre–operative vision (p=0.90) or age (p=0.82).
Conclusions: :
It is encouraging to program planners that persons with worse post–operative vision are more likely to remain in contact with the medical system by seeking post op follow–up, when they can potentially benefit from refractive correction, capsulotomy or other interventions. Targeted efforts to improve post–operative follow–up among men may be of benefit in this setting. Data on distance of primary residence from the follow–up facility will also be presented.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: health care delivery/economics/manpower • treatment outcomes of cataract surgery • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications