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First patient office visit vital to establishing effective glaucoma medical therapy, clinician says
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SAN FRANCISCO — Positive physician-patient interaction at a patient's first office visit can help establish successful glaucoma medical treatment through patient education about initial therapy, a physician said.
"You've got to get the patient to buy what you're selling — that initial patient encounter is so important. You only have one chance to make that first impression," Janet A. Betchkal, MD, said at the Glaucoma Subspecialty Day before the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting here. "I spend a fair amount of time [with the patient] on that first visit."
Dr. Betchkal said that she discusses dosing frequency and dosing scheduling with patients at their first office visit. She also provides them with brochures and literature about the disease. Patients need to understand the chronic, insidious nature of the disease, and why they need treatment, she said.
However, physicians should be aware that some patients have low reading comprehension of information presented, Dr. Betchkal said. At her office, patients are shown how to administer a drop and do punctual occlusion, she said.
The first visit is very important. As glaucoma is mainly an asymptomatic disease, information is crucial to helping patients understand the importance of compliance. Compliance does not only mean using the medication, but also complying with follow-up visits. It is useful to spend some more time in the first visit to provide adequate information to the patients and his/her relatives about the disease.
– S. Fabian Lerner, MD
OSN Latin American
Edition Medical Editor