Most Black patients with glaucoma recommend pre-visit question list, informational video
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Question prompt lists and educational videos motivated the majority of Black patients with glaucoma to engage with their doctors and may improve adherence to recommendations, according to a study published in Optometry and Vision Science.
“The majority of African American patients exposed to the video and glaucoma question prompt list accepted both parts of the intervention,” Betsy Sleath, PhD, regional associate dean for Eastern North Carolina and George H. Cocolas Distinguished Professor in the division of pharmaceutical outcomes and policy at University of North Carolina’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and colleagues wrote. “Younger and patients with fewer years of education were significantly more likely to find the video useful.”
In a randomized controlled trial, Sleath and colleagues examined the impact of a glaucoma question prompt list — a one-page list of questions patients may want to ask their provider about their condition — and an 11-minute educational video on patient engagement in 189 Black adults with glaucoma. The intervention group that watched the educational video and received the question prompt list included 93 individuals (average age, 67.7 years; 46.2% women; 80.6% had glaucoma in both eyes).
Participants were interviewed after their visit, and the intervention group provided feedback on their experience with both the educational video and the question prompt list. The ongoing trial includes a 12-month follow-up period after the first intervention.
Sleath and colleagues reported that 89% of participants in the intervention group said patients should complete the question prompt list before a visit, while 87% recommended watching the educational video before a visit.
Compared with younger patients, older patients were less likely to find the video useful (P = .04), and patients with less education (P = .01) and those who reported being less adherent on the visual analog scale (P = .03) were more likely to find the video useful compared with patients with more education and more adherence on the visual analog scale, respectively.
“Clear health communication is important for all patients, and, therefore, the video should be disseminated to all patients and especially to those with fewer years of education,” Sleath and colleagues wrote. “A video is a good way to deliver important health messages to patients with less education or lower health literacy.”
They concluded: “Practices could consider having patients complete the question prompt lists during pre-visit wait time. Clinics caring for African American patients with glaucoma could also consider having patients watch the educational video in the waiting area before visits.”
Perspective
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Most people think that making the glaucoma diagnosis is the most difficult part of eye care. While the diagnosis can be hard, it can oftentimes be even more difficult to communicate to patients that even though their vision may appear normal, that glaucoma, the “silent thief of sight,” may cause them permanent vision loss and even blindness.
The art of communicating with patients is a talent. As such, we often question how we can best educate and serve our patient population, knowing that some patients respond more effectively than others to different communication styles.
In their quest to open lines of communication with African American patients, Sleath and colleagues found that almost 90% of participants in their study supported the use of both a glaucoma question prompt list and educational video on patient engagement.
Regardless of race, socioeconomic status and education level, we should continue to strive to find ways to improve our communication and open our dialog with patients. This improvement will better equip our patients to understand their diagnosis, treatment and prognosis and also hopefully empower them to take charge of all aspects of their health care.
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