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Abstract #46481 Published in IGR 13-3
Racial and ethnic disparities in adherence to glaucoma follow-up visits in a county hospital population
Murakami Y; Lee BW; Duncan M; Kao A; Huang J-Y; Singh K; Lin SCArchives of Ophthalmology 2011; 129: 872-878
Objectives: To identify predictors of inconsistent attendance at glaucoma follow-up visits in a county hospital population. Methods: Prospective recruitment from August 1, 2008, through January 31, 2009, of 152 individuals with glaucoma, with 1-to-1 matching of patients (those with inconsistent follow-up) and controls (those with consistent follow-up). Data were collected via oral questionnaire. Survey results were correlated with attendance at follow-up examinations, using the t test, (chi)(2) test, and multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: After adjusting for covariates in the logistic regression analysis, factors independently associated with inconsistent follow-up included black race (adjusted OR, 7.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.64-31.24), Latino ethnicity (adjusted OR, 4.77; 1.12-20.29), unfamiliarity with necessary treatment duration (adjusted OR, 3.54; 1.26-9.94), lack of knowledge of the permanency of glaucoma-induced vision loss (adjusted OR, 3.09; 1.18-8.04), and perception that it is not important to attend all follow-up visits (adjusted OR, 3.54; 1.26-9.94). Conclusions: Demographic factors, including race and ethnicity, may directly or indirectly affect adherence to recommended glaucoma follow-up visits. Lack of information regarding irreversible vision loss from glaucoma, need for lifelong treatment, and lack of visual symptoms may be significant barriers to follow-up in this population. Targeted glaucoma education by physicians may improve follow-up, thereby decreasing the morbidity associated with glaucomatous disease.
S. C. Lin. University of California, San Francisco, 10 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0730, United States.
Classification:
11.17 Cooperation with medical therapy e.g. persistency, compliance, adherence (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
