Awareness and Adherence in Young and Older Glaucoma Patients who Live in European Side of İstanbul

• Published in: Medical journal of Bakirköy 2019-12, Vol.15 (4), p.357-361
• Main Authors: Tarakçıoğlu, Hatice Nur, Mavi Yıldız, Ayşegül, Sonbahar, Ozan, Yiğit, Ulviye, Özkaya, Abdullah
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; tur
• Subjects: Eye care products; Glaucoma; Patient compliance
• ISSN: 1305-9319; 1305-9327
• DOI: 10.4274/BTDMJB.galenos.2019.20181025062426

Objective: We aimed to compare the demographics, awareness about glaucoma, and adherence to the treatment between the young and old population of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. Methods: The POAG patients who were under follow-up in Bakırköy Training and Research Hospital Ophthalmology Clinic and were using medication since at least one year and volunteered for our survey were included this cross-sectional study between April and May 2018. Two surveys which included 13 questions and were used in previous studies were enriched with 6 additional questions and applied to the patients. The patients were divided into two groups according to the World Health Organization’s classification in regard to age as ≤65 years (young patients) and >65 years (old patients) and compared in regards to the survey questions. Results: There was not statistically significant between the two groups in regards to gender, general awareness about glaucoma, regular follow-up, regular drug use, family history of glaucoma, disability in hand and arm movements, duration of glaucoma (p>0.05 for all). There was a statistical difference between the two groups in regards to the education level (the patients ≤65 years were more educated, p=0.03), awareness of blindness secondary to the disease (more frequent in the patients ≤65 years old, p=0.02), awareness of drug’s brand (more frequent in the patients ≤65 years old, p=0.003), requiring assistance while using the drugs (more frequent in the group of patients >65 years-old, p=0.01), monthly number of forgetting the drug doses (more frequent in the group of patients >65 years-old, p=0.006), living alone (more frequent in the group of patients >65 years-old, p=0.02), and the number of used drugs (more frequent in the group of patients >65 years-old, p=0.03). Conclusion: It is obvious that the patients who are >65 years old will be less adherent to glaucoma treatment as they more frequently require assistance for drug use and live alone.