Improving medication adherence in glaucoma patients: a randomized controlled interventional study

Objectives: The main objective of our study was to assess the adherence of Jordanian patients to their glaucoma treatment after a brief educational session. Methods: The current study was a randomized controlled interventional study. One hundred and ninety open-angle glaucoma patients were divided into control and intervention groups. After baseline assessment, patients in the intervention group received an educational session about glaucoma, while patients in the control group only received the usual care. Adherence to medication, eye drop administration technique, and knowledge about glaucoma were assessed at baseline and at follow-up. Key findings: The mean MGL adherence scale score baseline value was 0.67 and significantly improved to 0.4 at the follow-up (P-value = .039) for patients in the intervention group. Multivariate regression showed that having less than three kids and experiencing glaucoma medication side effects were negatively correlated with adherence to glaucoma eye drops. The mean Eye Drops Administration scale score for patients in the intervention group improved significantly from 6.25 at baseline to 7.7 at the follow-up (P-value < .001). The mean knowledge scale score for the intervention group patients at baseline was 8.8, which significantly increased to 10 at the follow-up (P-value < .001). The knowledge score was found to be significantly higher for younger patients, those who have higher education levels and health care-related education, patients who rely on the ophthalmologist for glaucoma, and patients with a longer duration glaucoma. Conclusions: A short educational session improves patients' adherence, knowledge, and eye drop administration technique in the intervention group significantly. Patients in Jordan have a relatively high adherence to glaucoma medications. Educational sessions should be provided to glaucoma patients to help the patients in managing their condition.