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Published on: March 12, 2016
Chart documentation by general physicians of the glaucoma medications taken by their patients
Henry D Jampel1, Parag Parekh, Elizabeth Johnson
1Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. hjampel@jhmi.edu
Purpose:
To estimate the frequency of documentation of glaucoma medications by primary care physicians.
Design:
Cross-sectional, observational study.
Methods:
The general medical records of 100 patients of one glaucoma specialist were reviewed. We recorded whether the mention of eyedrops appeared in the medical record.
Results:
The median number of glaucoma medications used was 2.5 (range 1 to 5). Fifty-five (55%, 95% confidence interval: 45%-65%) of the medical records of the primary physicians mentioned eyedrops. Alpha-agonists were statistically less frequently documented (13%) in the general medical record than beta-adrenergic blockers (47%) and prostaglandins (44%).
Conclusion:
Almost half of the charts of these primary physicians had no documentation of any eyedrop use by their patients with glaucoma. An important step in reducing drug-induced side effects and interactions with other medications would be better recognition by primary physicians of the ophthalmic drugs used by their patients.
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