Patients' and physicians' perceptions of the travoprost dosing aid: an open-label, multicenter study of adherence with prostaglandin analogue therapy for open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes patients' and physicians' perceptions of issues related to dosing adherence with topical therapies for lowering intraocular pressure before and after use of the travoprost dosing aid (Travatan Dosing Aid, Alcon Research Ltd., Fort Worth, Texas).
METHODS: The study had an open-label, multicenter, single-treatment-arm design that included sequential patients with open-angle glaucoma (with or without pigment dispersion or pseudoexfoliation component) or ocular hypertension who were taking any prostaglandin analogue monotherapy. Ten participating physicians were chosen on the basis of factors such as their experience, qualifications, and previous clinical study participation. The study consisted of 2 visits: screening and week 4. Patients were asked to complete a survey about their medication adherence before study entry at the screening visit and at study exit during the week-4 visit. In addition, each physician was asked to complete an entry and exit survey on each patient as well as a survey to provide feedback on the travoprost dosing aid.
RESULTS: Of the 87 enrolled patients, 6 did not complete the exit survey; therefore, 81 patients were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. Mean (SD) age at enrollment was 65.4 (11.6) years; 61.7% (50/81) of the patients were women and 60.5% (49/81) were white. Most patients (96.3% [78/81]) had open-angle glaucoma. Participating physicians perceived that problems involving dosing and adherence were reduced after patients used the dosing aid. Physicians indicated that they would recommend continued use of the travoprost dosing aid for 91.3% (73/80) of patients. All 10 participating physicians said that they would recommend the dosing aid to patients in the future. Of the 81 patients, the majority (68.8% [55/80]) indicated that they would like to continue using the travoprost dosing aid. For 67.5% (54/80) of patients, dosing adherence as recorded by the travoprost dosing aid was >70%. The dosing lever (39.7% [31/78]) and the visual alarm (29.5% [23/78]) were the 2 most favored features of the dosing aid reported by all evaluable patients. The majority of patients (58.8% [47/80]) indicated that they were "relieved" or "very relieved" that the doctor was able to monitor when they dosed their medication; few (7.5% [6/80]) were "concerned" or "very concerned" that the doctor was able to monitor their dosing.
CONCLUSIONS: The travoprost dosing aid was perceived to be effective in reminding this group of patients to take their medication as prescribed. In this study, the device was well accepted by both patients and physicians.