Posters

Study of compliance with medical treatment in primary open angle glaucoma

Poster Details

First Author: A.Ben Youssef TUNISIA

Co Author(s): H. zgolli   O. Fekih   F. Ben Zineb   I. Malek   L. Nacef        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a chronic and common disease in our population. Its treatment is largely based on hypotensive eye drops. The patient's commitment to this treatment thus represents one of the major pillars of the overall management of this pathology. The purpose of our work was to assess the degree of compliance to treatment and to identify the main influencing factors.

Setting:

Hedi Rais institute of Ophthalmology. Department A.

Methods:

We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 93 patients followed by consultations in department "A" of the Hédi Rais Institute of Ophthalmology in Tunis. We based our assessment on indirect evaluation of compliance to treatment by means of an interview and a complete clinical examination of the patients.

Results:

Compliance was rated good in 57.4% of cases, average in 16.4% of cases and poor in 26.2% of cases. Patient awareness of the disease was rated good in 38 patients (40.8%), average in 22 patients (23.7%) and poor in 33 patients (35.5%).Fifty patients (53.8%) were knowledgeable about their pathology, and 42.6% thought their treatment was unnecessary. We noted a statistically significant correlation between treatment compliance and age (p<0.01),education level (p<0.01), treatment's cost (p=0.05), number of drops (p=0.05) and degree of perception of the disease (p<0.01). Patients who found the treatment ineffective were the least compliant (p<0.01).

Conclusions:

As compliance with medical treatment in POAG is essential in its management, it is crucial to point out the importance of communication in the patient-doctor relationship. Elderly subjects and patients with low levels of education would require more intensive therapeutic counseling. Patients should be well informed about their disease, its possible complications and the importance of therapeutic compliance.

Financial Disclosure:

None