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Improved communication may increase patients' adherence to glaucoma medication
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 David S. Friedman |
PHILADELPHIA — Enhanced physician-patient discourse may go a long way in boosting patients' adherence to glaucoma therapy, a presenter said here.
Educational intervention can help many physicians learn the communication skills they currently lack, David S. Friedman, MD, MPH, PhD, said during the Richard A. Ellis Lecture at the Wills Eye Institute Alumni Conference.
"We do a terrible job. We're not good at talking to our patients, and you can do better," Dr. Friedman said. "Changing the way we talk can improve outcomes. ... I view this area as an area of tremendous opportunity."
According to results of the Glaucoma Adherence and Persistency Study, 90% of patients reported taking eye drops daily and 10% admitted to not using drops as directed. Impediments to adherence included patients forgetting to use drops, concern about side effects, running out of drops, not having drops when traveling, difficulty using drops away from home and self-consciousness about appearance, Dr. Friedman said.
Another study showed that strategies such as educational videos, text messaging and weekly telephone calls to remind patients of scheduled office visits improved adherence by 20%.
A third study showed that physicians spent an average of 6 minutes speaking with patients, and 18% asked their patients open-ended questions about disease and treatment. After educational intervention, 82% of physicians asked open-ended questions. In addition, 78% of physicians detected non-adherence, compared with 25% before intervention, Dr. Friedman said.
- Disclosure: Dr. Friedman reported financial relationships with Alcon, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb and Merck.