Glaucoma Patient Knowledge, Perceptions, and Predispositions for Telemedicine

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Health Informatics
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Telemedicine offers potential for remote glaucoma care, but patient understanding and acceptance are crucial for successful implementation.
• Older adults, a significant demographic for glaucoma, may have varying levels of digital literacy and familiarity with telehealth services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing knowledge, perceptions, and predispositions towards telemedicine among elderly glaucoma patients.
• To identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with telemedicine awareness and acceptance in this population.

Main Methods:

• A study enrolled 110 patients aged 60+ with glaucoma or related conditions at an academic eye clinic.
• Participants completed the Life Space Questionnaire (LSQ) and the Preferences for Telemedicine Questionnaire (PTQ).
• Statistical analyses, including chi-testing and Mann-Whitney U tests, examined associations between questionnaire responses and patient characteristics (age, race, education, LSQ score, visual acuity).

Main Results:

• 71% and 74% of patients were neutral or agreed to telediagnosis and teleintervention, respectively.
• Younger patients (60-69), those of European descent, and individuals with higher education demonstrated significantly greater knowledge of various telemedicine applications.
• Patients who traveled greater distances (LSQ score ≥6) showed increased knowledge of telediagnosis, teleintervention, and telemonitoring.

Conclusions:

• Telemedicine knowledge among older glaucoma patients is inconsistent, with specific demographic factors influencing awareness.
• A substantial proportion of older glaucoma patients exhibit favorable attitudes towards utilizing telemedicine for their eye care.
• Targeted educational interventions may be necessary to improve telemedicine understanding and adoption in this patient group.