Factors affecting adherence to glaucoma medication: Patient perspective from North India

Adherence to glaucoma medical therapy is a key factor in achieving target intraocular pressure to prevent glaucoma progression. To determine factors affecting medication adherence in glaucoma patients in an urban population belonging to poor socioeconomic status.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 patients attending glaucoma services in a tertiary referral hospital of North India. Adherence to medication was determined subjectively by questionnaire and objectively by counting the number of used bottles at the end of a month or during refill, whichever was earlier. Patient-related parameters in adherence toward glaucoma medication were studied based on demography, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). The statistical techniques of bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were adopted to test the objective.

The population was statistically homogeneous based on gender and income in both groups. A large proportion of patients had bilateral disease (87%) and were on two or more medications (62.5%). Adherence to glaucoma medical therapy was seen in 68% of patients, with knowledge about glaucoma present in 58% of patients. Deterrents to drug adherence were identified as forgetfulness (71%), unavailability of drugs (19%) or funds to purchase the same (26%), polypharmacy (21%), and side effects (5%). Dependence on an escort by 44% and dependence on hospital supply of medications by 60% emerged as the contextual factors requiring scrutiny while prescribing lifelong glaucoma medications. Disease misconceptions (53%) were prevalent and drug instillation practices were unsatisfactory (57%).

The study offers insight into patients' perspectives regarding the lifetime use of antiglaucoma medications and focuses on key issues linked to drug nonadherence.