advertisement
Abstract #9879 Published in IGR 5-3
Compliance of medical treatment in primitive glaucoma open angle
Wane AM; Ndiaye MR; Wade A; Ndiaye PA; Ba EA; De Medeiros ME; Ndoye PA; Ndiaye CS; Kameni AJournal Français d'Ophtalmologie 2003; 26: 1039-1044
INTRODUCTION: Compliance to medical treatment expresses the patient's perception of the disease and the treatment prescribed by the doctors. Lack of compliance endangers chronic glaucoma care, which explains the importance it has been given these last years. The objectives of this survey were to evaluate the compliance of adult patients suffering from primary open angle glaucoma in order to discover the influential factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors conducted a survey at the ophthalmology clinic of Le Dantec Hospital from January 1997 to May 1998 among 31 adults being treated for primary open angle glaucoma. An indirect evaluation of patient compliance was made on the basis of a questionnaire after examination of their medical files. It was deemed good, average, or bad depending on: regularity of the patient's visits to the doctors, regularity of the treatment, respect of the doctor's prescription, and the prescribed times for taking the medicine. The chi square independence test was used to study the influence of the following factors: age, sex, residence, socioeconomic status, duration of symptom progression, level of instruction, counseling, and treatment. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 60.5 years. Compliance was deemed good in 29% of the total cases, average in 32.3%, and bad in 38.7%. Only factors such as regular visits to the doctor, regularity of the treatment, and respect of the doctor's prescription and the prescribed times for taking the medicine were found to be influential (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The medical treatment of primary open angle glaucoma, whether temporary or permanent, with maximum efficacy and minimum side-effects requires good compliance on the part of the patient. In turn, this compliance requires a good doctor-patient relationship based on effective repeated counseling in order to educate patients, help them understand the disease, and act on the influential factors. LA: French
Dr. A.M. Wane, Clinique Ophtalmologique, CHU Le Dantec, Dakar, Senegal
Classification:
11.1 General management, indication (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
