Knowledge, attitude and practice assessment in glaucoma patients at a tertiary eye-care centre in South India: A questionnaire-based study

Abstract

To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of glaucoma patients and to analyse the quality of life using GQL-15 questionnaire.: 70 patients with glaucoma who attended our tertiary eye care centre from November 2022 to April 2023 were included in the study. The patients were counselled regarding the nature of the disease, anti-glaucoma medications, their dose and frequency of instillation in their first visit. The patients were assessed using KAP and GQL-15 questionnaire in the next visit. Trained optometrists of our hospital administered the questions in the local language. Out of 70 patients who were enrolled in the study, 52 (74.28%) of patients were found to have adequate knowledge related to nature of the disease, drug, dose, frequency and method of instillation of anti-glaucoma medications and the remaining eighteen (25.71%) were found to have inadequate knowledge. A positive attitude towards usage of eye drops was noticed in 46 (65.71%) of patients and the remaining 24 (34.28%) showed negative attitude. 49 (70%) of patients were found to follow safe practice and remaining 21 (30%) followed negative practice. 45 (64.28%) of patients showed low GQL score based on GQL-15 questionnaire in their second visit, while 25(35.71%) of them showed high HQL score.This study intends to highlight that awareness and adequate knowledge regarding glaucoma can help patients in adhering to the treatment and may help in reducing the disease and eventually blindness burden due to this sight threatening disease.