Laura E. Dreer|Christopher A. Girkin|Steven L. Mansberger
Determinants of Medication Adherence to Topical Glaucoma Therapy
Legacy Health
introductionpurpose determine associations medical demographic socioeconomic ocular factors adherence topical glaucoma ocular hypotensive therapy methods one hundred sixteen patients ocular hypertension openangle glaucoma 2 tertiary glaucoma services participated prospective study adherence ocular hypotensive therapy measured using electronic dose monitor travatan dosing aid alcon laboratories inc fort worth tx collected data 3 months enrollment used 3 different definitions adherence 1 definition 1 proportion days taking prescribed number drops within 3 hours prescribed dosing time 2 definition 2 proportion days taking drops within 3 hours prescribed dosing time 3 definition 3 proportion days taking drops within 6 hours prescribed dosing time univariate multivariate models used determine association 3 adherence definitions medical demographic socioeconomic ocular factors 3month followup main outcome measures study risk factors poor objective medication adherence results adherence using definition 1 definition 2 definition 3 64 75 80 respectively age total number eye diseases race significantly associated full treatment adherence definition 1 race alone significantly predicting 11 full treatment adherence definition 2 age income level education total number eye diseases significantly associated partial adherence 3 h race alone significantly predicted 15 partial adherence drops within 3 h definition 3 race income level education total number eye diseases significantly predicted partial adherence drops within 6 h race income predicted 19 partial treatment adherence significant differences adherence rates patients european descent african descent found 3 definitions less adherent likely african descent conclusions electronic dose monitors provide important information regarding adherence topical ocular hypotensive medications glaucoma patients electronic dose monitors show low adherence significant number participants future studies needed determine reasons differences health behaviors related glaucoma treatment guide treatment poor adherence glaucoma therapy