[Obstacles to medication compliance for patients with glaucoma]. / Przyczyny pomijania zalecanych dawek leków przez pacjentów z jaskra.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Aim of the study was to identify obstacles to medication adherence (compliance) for patients with glaucoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective case series of structured interviews were conducted in 150 patients with glaucoma. (75 patients treated in the glaucoma out-patient clinic of the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland and 75 patients treated in regional out-patient clinics). Questionnaire of an anonymous survey, formulated on the basis of the publication Tsai J.C. et al. "Compliance barriers in glaucoma a systematic classification", J. Glaucoma. 2003, 12, 393-398. RESULTS: The results of the survey showed omissions of particular doses of medications in 62.7% of patients from regional outpatient clinics and in 35.3% of patients treated at the Department of Ophthalmology. It was shown that 32.7% of respondents from regional outpatient clinics and 8.7% from the Department of Ophthalmology Glaucoma Clinic declared remaining without antiglaucoma drops for more than one day. As reasons for omissions of single doses of the medications forgetfulness (54.7%), too many doses of medications (10%) and little knowledge about the disease (10%) were usually pointed. According to the respondents little knowledge (32%) and financial factors (22%) are the main causes of medications withdrawal for longer time. CONCLUSIONS: The most common obstacles to medication compliance for patients with glaucoma include forgetfulness, low level of knowledge about the disease, financial factors and too many doses of the medications. Fewer doses and the presence of a supporting person have a positive influence on compliance.