Intervention program helped increase medication compliance rate

SAN DIEGO — Glaucoma patients who showed poor adherence to their medications increased compliance by almost 20% after participating in an intervention program, according to a clinical trial reported here.

David S. Friedman

"We have a lot of really good data now showing that adherence is far from ideal. I know this is old news," David S. Friedman, MD, PhD, said at the American Glaucoma Society meeting. "It's interesting that it was only in 1993 that people first really started looking at this in glaucoma therapy."

To date, most studies on the issue have shown an adherence rate of about 70%. "It really is striking how it continuously comes out that way," Dr. Friedman said.

Patients at two centers were monitored for 8 weeks using the Travatan Dosing Aid, a device that records medication use. Those who took less than 75% of their doses were included. The prospective study included 66 patients; 35 were randomized to intervention and 31 were randomized to a control group.

Intervention comprised an educational video, consultation with investigators on issues affecting adherence and weekly telephone calls reminding patients to use their medication, which was Travatan (travoprost, Alcon).

In the intervention group, adherence improved from 54% at baseline to 73% after intervention (P < .001). In the control group, compliance rose from 46% to 51%, which was not significant.

"This was a fairly modest intervention, and we improved adherence by close to 20% in those who were poorly adherent. We really have to study which aspects of the intervention were most influential," Dr. Friedman said.