Impact of a Brief Educational Intervention on Glaucoma Persistence: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

To determine whether two sessions of a glaucoma educational intervention resulted in better persistence to glaucoma eye drop therapy compared to normal care.

A total of 165 patients newly diagnosed with glaucoma who required eye drop therapy were recruited into a randomized clinical trial from the glaucoma clinic at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal, Canada. Patients were randomized to either an immediate intervention or normal care. The intervention consisted of two 60-90 minute sessions of education on glaucoma and its management, given in a small group format by a non-practicing ophthalmologist. Persistence to glaucoma medication was examined for 1 year by the use of Hospital medical records and by pharmacy claims records from the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (Quebec Health Insurance Program). A questionnaire was administered, and medication possession ratio calculated. The primary outcome was persistence, defined as having medication available at least 75% of the time. Secondary outcomes included eye drop instillation technique and perception of the importance of eye drop therapy.

The intervention group achieved better persistence to eye drop therapy, as 77% of controls and 89% of people receiving the intervention were persistent (p = 0.049). The intervention also resulted in better eye drop instillation technique (p < 0.001) and greater perception of the importance of eye drop therapy (p < 0.001).

Brief instructional sessions offered to newly diagnosed glaucoma patients can result in better persistence rates over 1-year follow-up. Strategies to permanently offer these types of initiatives should be considered.