Evaluation of a Specialty Nursing Program For Patients With Mixed-Type Dry Eye Disease Based on Chronic Disease...

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a specialty nursing program for dry eye disease (DED), developed within the framework of chronic disease management (CDM), in patients with mixed-type DED.

A total of 160 patients with mixed-type DED who attended the specialty nursing clinic in a tertiary hospital between January 2024 and January 2025 were enrolled using convenience sampling and randomly allocated to either an experimental group (n=80) or a control group (n=80). Patients in the experimental group received the specialty nursing program for DED based on CDM, whereas those in the control group received routine nursing care. Outcomes were assessed using the Medication Adherence Assessment Scale, the Dry Eye Questionnaire-5 (DEQ-5), tear break-up time (TBUT), and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Measurements were conducted at baseline (T0) and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after the intervention (T1-T4) to evaluate medication adherence and treatment-related outcomes.

There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics or preintervention assessments between the 2 groups ( P >0.05). Following the intervention, patients in the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher scores on the Medication Adherence Assessment Scale, improved DEQ-5 and OSDI scores, and longer TBUT values across T1 to T4 compared with the control group ( P <0.001).

Implementation of a specialty nursing program for DED within the framework of CDM effectively improved medication adherence, enhanced tear film stability, and reduced symptom severity in patients with mixed-type DED. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the development of personalized and standardized management strategies for patients with DED.