Compliance and knowledge about glaucoma in austrian patients

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To document the rate of non‐compliance and patients’ attitude towards and knowledge of glaucoma in Austrian patients. Methods Prospective observational case series. One‐ hundred consecutive glaucoma patients of an Austrian outpatient glaucoma department were included in the study. Patients were already under medical treatment for glaucoma. Personal characteristics, presence of systemic disease, compliance with glaucoma medication, and glaucoma‐related attitudes were ascertained by means of a predetermined questionnaire with 40 questions. Patients were subsequently assessed for the ability to correctly instil placebo eye drops. Non‐compliance was defined as omitting glaucoma medication more than once a week. Univariate and logistic regression was used to examine how patient characteristics and knowledge were related to reported compliance Results Average age was 63.6 years (range 19‐88). Overall, 89% (n= 89) of patients reported to be compliant. Knowledge about the disease was associated with higher compliance (RR 3.05, 95% CI 1.7‐9.6). Forgetfulness was the most frequently cited reason for non‐compliance (20%). Although 84% patients believed glaucoma medication to be efficient, only 26% could give a simple correct definition of glaucoma. 29% had a positive family history for glaucoma. Conclusion Despite the comparatively high compliance rate of Austrian patients with their glaucoma medication, knowledge of glaucoma remains poor in long term glaucoma sufferers.Patient compliance to glaucoma treatment could be improved mainly by increasing patient knowledge of the disease.