Patient-reported barriers to glaucoma medication access, use, and adherence in southern India

Indian J Ophthalmol. 2009 Jan-Feb;57(1):63-8. doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.44495.

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to (a) describe the different types of problems that patients in southern India reported having when taking their glaucoma medications and (b) examine the relationship between patient reported-problems in taking their glaucoma medications and the self-reported patient adherence. A survey was conducted by clinical staff on 243 glaucoma patients who were on at least one glaucoma medication in an eye clinic in southern India. We found that 42% of patients reported one or more problems in using their glaucoma medications. Approximately 6% of patients reported being less than 100% adherent in the past week. Unmarried patients and patients who reported difficulty squeezing the bottle and difficulty opening the bottle were significantly more likely to report nonadherence.

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Attitude to Health
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Glaucoma / drug therapy*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Services Research
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Medication Errors / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Compliance / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents