An Exploratory Study of Factors Influencing Glaucoma Treatment Adherence

Abstract

Purpose To understand the factors that influence glaucoma treatment adherence with medication taking, prescription refills, and appointment keeping in order to develop an intervention for a specific population. Patients and Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 80 individuals diagnosed with open angle glaucoma, glaucoma suspect, or ocular hypertension. Additional eligibility requirements were that all participants were: between the ages of 18–80; White or African American; spoke and understood English; and were taking daily doses of topical glaucoma treatments for at least the past year. Cross-tabulations and Chi-square tests were conducted to compare adherent and non-adherent individuals, classified as such based on self-report and medical chart/pharmacy data. Results Compared to adherent participants, non-adherent participants were less likely to: believe their eye doctors spent sufficient time with them; ask their eye doctor if they had any questions; know of benefits to taking their glaucoma medication regularly; and have someone help them take their glaucoma medications or drive them to eye appointments. Conversely, compared to adherent individuals, non-adherent participants were more likely to have difficulty remembering to take their medications and to believe their glaucoma would affect their eye sight in the future. Conclusions Non-adherent glaucoma patients struggle with a variety of issues related to consistent use of glaucoma medicine and routine eye care. Interventions are needed to address these modifiable factors related to glaucoma treatment adherence.

Factors Influencing Self-Reported Use of Antioxidant Supplements in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

“…In addition, frequent doctors' visits promote the doctor-patient relationship, which may also account for a better medication adherence. 19 In contrast, other factors such as age or education level, which were found as determinants for medication adherence in chronic eye diseases such as glaucoma, had no significant influence on the use of AREDS supplements in our study. Similarly, Friedman et al 20 did not consistently find age as a significant risk factor for poor adherence.…”

Eye drop instillation technique in patients with glaucoma

“…For some patients this includes multiple medications instilled several times per day. Previous studies have shown that patients commonly miss eye drop doses [1][2][3][4][5][6] and that poor adherence is associated with more severe visual field loss. 7 Kass et al, 1 using an electronic dose monitor, found that 62% of patients omitted 10% of doses and 15% of patients omitted 50% of doses.…”

Assessing the Role of the Family/Support System Perspective in Patients With Glaucoma

“…26 Qualitative research methods have been used in the study of glaucoma, specifically to gain insight regarding quality of life, 27,28 barriers to receiving eye care, 8,9,29 patient education, 30,31 and adherence to care recommendations. 6,11,18 Although some of these studies have noted family and social support factors as important considerations, they have not specifically focused on asking individuals in the social support network of patients with glaucoma for their perspectives and how they relate to the perspectives of the individuals with glaucoma.…”

“…2 Prior work by other investigators have identified many possible factors contributing to this problem, including lack of patient understanding of glaucoma and its treatment, lack of patient adherence to treatment recommendations, inability to afford either medications or medical care, other barriers to access to care, and innate aggressiveness of disease in some patients. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Despite this research, we continue to struggle with effectively treating patients-even those with access to eye care providers. Identification of the reasons that patients continue to lose vision from glaucoma despite being within the health care system is critical.…”