Betsy L Sleath1, Susan J Blalock2, Kelly W Muir3, Delesha M Carpenter2, Scott D Lawrence4, Annette L Giangiacomo5, Jason A Goldsmith6, Mary Elizabeth Hartnett6, Catherine Slota4, Alan L Robin7. 1. University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA betsy_sleath@unc.edu. 2. University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 3. Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. 4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 5. Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. 6. John A. Moran Eye Center University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. 7. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many factors influence glaucoma medication adherence. A better understanding of the relationships between health literacy, depressive symptoms, and patient-reported problems in using glaucoma medications may reveal opportunities for intervention that could improve patients' clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between patient characteristics (demographics, health literacy, and depressive symptoms) and patient-reported problems in using glaucoma medications and to assess factors related to patients' self-reported adherence to glaucoma medications. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (n = 228) currently taking intraocular pressure-lowering medications were recruited at 6 ophthalmology clinics. Patients were interviewed to identify problems using glaucoma medications, and self-reported medication adherence was determined using a Visual Analog Scale. Questionnaires were administered to assess health literacy, depressive symptoms, outcome expectations, and medication self-efficacy. RESULTS: Younger patients (P = 0.03), patients with depressive symptoms (P = 0.02), and patients who reported more medication problems (P = 0.005) were significantly less adherent to their glaucoma medications. Patients with higher glaucoma medication self-efficacy adherence scores (P = 0.003) and higher outcome expectations (P = 0.03) were significantly more adherent. CONCLUSIONS: Providers should consider using tools to screen glaucoma patients for depressive symptoms and for problems in using medications to identify patients who are at higher risk of nonadherence to treatment and who might benefit from follow-up with primary care providers.
BACKGROUND: Many factors influence glaucoma medication adherence. A better understanding of the relationships between health literacy, depressive symptoms, and patient-reported problems in using glaucoma medications may reveal opportunities for intervention that could improve patients' clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between patient characteristics (demographics, health literacy, and depressive symptoms) and patient-reported problems in using glaucoma medications and to assess factors related to patients' self-reported adherence to glaucoma medications. METHODS:Patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (n = 228) currently taking intraocular pressure-lowering medications were recruited at 6 ophthalmology clinics. Patients were interviewed to identify problems using glaucoma medications, and self-reported medication adherence was determined using a Visual Analog Scale. Questionnaires were administered to assess health literacy, depressive symptoms, outcome expectations, and medication self-efficacy. RESULTS: Younger patients (P = 0.03), patients with depressive symptoms (P = 0.02), and patients who reported more medication problems (P = 0.005) were significantly less adherent to their glaucoma medications. Patients with higher glaucoma medication self-efficacy adherence scores (P = 0.003) and higher outcome expectations (P = 0.03) were significantly more adherent. CONCLUSIONS: Providers should consider using tools to screen glaucomapatients for depressive symptoms and for problems in using medications to identify patients who are at higher risk of nonadherence to treatment and who might benefit from follow-up with primary care providers.
Authors: Catherine Slota; Robyn Sayner; Michelle Vitko; Delesha M Carpenter; Susan J Blalock; Alan L Robin; Kelly W Muir; Mary Elizabeth Hartnett; Betsy Sleath Journal: Optom Vis Sci Date: 2015-05 Impact factor: 1.973
Authors: Paula Anne Newman-Casey; Olivia Killeen; Sarah Miller; Chamisa MacKenzie; Leslie M Niziol; Ken Resnicow; John W Creswell; Paul Cook; Michele Heisler Journal: Health Commun Date: 2018-12-20
Authors: Scott J Fudemberg; Dilru C Amarasekera; Marlee H Silverstein; Kathryn M Linder; Paul Heffner; Lisa A Hark; Michael Waisbourd Journal: J Community Health Date: 2016-08
Authors: Betsy Sleath; Susan J Blalock; Delesha M Carpenter; Robyn Sayner; Kelly W Muir; Catherine Slota; Scott D Lawrence; Annette L Giangiacomo; Mary Elizabeth Hartnett; Gail Tudor; Jason A Goldsmith; Alan L Robin Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 2014-12-24 Impact factor: 12.079
Authors: Delesha M Carpenter; Gail E Tudor; Robyn Sayner; Kelly W Muir; Alan L Robin; Susan J Blalock; Mary Elizabeth Hartnett; Annette L Giangiacomo; Betsy L Sleath Journal: Patient Educ Couns Date: 2015-07-06
Authors: Delesha M Carpenter; Susan J Blalock; Robyn Sayner; Kelly W Muir; Alan L Robin; Mary Elizabeth Hartnett; Annette L Giangiacomo; Gail E Tudor; Betsy L Sleath Journal: Optom Vis Sci Date: 2016-07 Impact factor: 1.973