Factors affecting compliance with eye drop therapy for glaucoma in a multicultural outpatient setting
Cheryl Curtis
Outpatients Department, Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney NSW
Eva Lo
Ophthalmic Nurse, Outpatients Department, Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney NSW
Linda Ooi
Ophthalmic Nurse, Outpatients Department, Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney NSW
Lydia Bennett
Registered Psychologist, Sydney CBD and Hunters Hill, NSW
Janet Long
Ophthalmic Nurse, Outpatients Department, Sydney Eye Hospital, Sydney NSW
PP: 121 - 128
Abstract
Ophthalmic nurses at Sydney Hospital Sydney Eye Hospital aimed to assess and evaluate the knowledge and resulting behaviours of patients using eye drop therapy for glaucoma and the effect that using interpreters or English speaking family members had on patients' understanding and compliance. Non-compliance is known to lead to progression of the disease with resulting loss of vision. The study showed that patients undergoing long-term therapy for glaucoma have areas of non-compliance that may not be apparent to staff who see them in a clinic setting. It also showed that ineffectual use or missed doses of eye drops occur in both male and female groups, young and older groups and those from non-English and English speaking backgrounds. This is in spite of the same patients' assurances that they have received clear instructions. It has been shown that the use of interpreters or English speaking family members has not affected compliance.
This study has shown that even patients who have been on therapy for over 12 months are likely to benefit from continuing education and reinforcement of good technique. Poor understanding of glaucoma in the over 65 age group was not associated with a higher rate of non-compliance.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Nick Marosszeky for assistance with data analysis and staff of Sydney Hospital Sydney Eye Hospital Eye Outpatients Department for their comments.
Keywords
compliance, glaucoma, multicultural, outpatient, ophthalmology, nursing
References
Bloch S, Rosenthal AR, Friedman L and Caldarolla P (1977) Patient compliance in glaucoma, British Journal of Ophthalmology 61: 531-534.
Cooper J (1996) Improving compliance with glaucoma eye-drop treatment, Nursing Times 92(32): 36-37.
Eye Research Australia (2005) Clear Insight: The Economic Impact and Cost of Vision Loss in Australia. Melbourne: The Centre for Eye Research Australia.
Goldberg I (1977) 'Some thoughts to get you started on understanding glaucoma'. Unpublished patient information sheet.
Kass MA, Gordon M and Meltzer DW (1987) Can ophthalmologists correctly identify patients defaulting from pilocarpine therapy? American Journal of Ophthalmology 103: 188.
Konstas AGP, Maskaleris G, Gratsonidis C and Sardelli C (2000) Compliance and viewpoint of glaucoma patients in Greece, Eye 14: 752-756.
MacKean JM and Elkington AR (1983) Compliance with treatment of patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma, British Journal of Ophthalmology 67: 46-49.
Morlet N and Kelly M (1996) Improving drop administration by patients, Journal of Ophthalmic Nursing and Technology 15(2): 60-64.
Patel SC and Spaeth GL (1995) Compliance in patients prescribed eyedrops for glaucoma, Ophthalmic Surgery 26: 233-236.
Rendell J (2000) Effect of health education on patients' beliefs about glaucoma and compliance, Insight: The Journal of the American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses 25(4): 112-118.
Riffenburgh RS (1966) Doctor-patient relationship in glaucoma therapy, Archives of Ophthalmology 75: 204-206.
Rotchford AP and Murphy KM (1998) Compliance with Timolol treatment in glaucoma, Eye 12(2): 234-236.
Schwartz GF (2005) Compliance and persistency in glaucoma follow-up treatment, Current Opinion in Ophthalmology 16: 114-121.
Spaeth GL (1970) Visual loss in a glaucoma clinic. I. Sociological considerations, Investigative Ophthalmology 9(1): 73-82.
Stewart WC, Konstas AGP and Pfeiffer N (2004) Patient and ophthalmologist attitudes concerning compliance and dosing in glaucoma treatment, Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics 20(6): 461-469.
Tsai JC, McClure CA, Ramos SE, Schlundt DG and Pichert JW (2003) Compliance barriers in glaucoma: a systematic classification, Journal of Glaucoma 12(5): 393-398.
Wane AM, Ndiaye MR,Wade A, Nyiaye PA, Ba EA, de Medeiros ME, Ndoye PA, Nyiaye CS and Kameni A (2003) Compliance of medical treatment in primitive glaucoma open angle, Journal Francais d'Opthalmologie 26(10): 1039-1044.
Winfield AJ, Jessiman D,Williams A and Esakowitz L (1990) A study of the causes of non-compliance by patients prescribed drops, British Journal of Ophthalmology 74: 477-480.
Zimmerman TJ and Zalta AH (1983) Facilitating patient compliance in glaucoma therapy, Survey of Ophthalmology 28: 252-257.
eContent Home
