1. Level of Adherence to Glaucoma Medication and Its Associated Factors Among Adult Jordanian Patients.
- Author
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Alhusban AA, Albdour M, Alhusban AA, Alhumimat G, Al-Qerem W, and Al-Bawab AQF
- Abstract
Background: Glaucoma is considered the second most common cause of blindness in patients above the age of 50. Lack of adherence to glaucoma medications frequently results in undesirable complications, specifically blindness and disability., Purpose: The study's objectives are to evaluate the level of adherence to glaucoma topical medications and factors associated with adherence to glaucoma medications., Patients and Methods: In total, 348 patients, of whom 48.6% were above the age of 65, were recruited. A cross-sectional study from August 2018 to March 2020 was conducted on glaucoma patients who were referred to the Department of Ophthalmology in Royal Medical Services in Amman, Jordan. A questionnaire was employed to collect patients' demographic data, level of adherence, and factors associated with medication adherence. The inclusion criteria include the following: age above 20 years, diagnosis of glaucoma, currently under medical treatment, and willingness to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria include the following: patients who were hospitalized for glaucoma treatment, patients who had unstable medical conditions, and any patients for whom ophthalmologists had determined that they should be excluded for any other reasons., Results: Almost half (47.1%) of the patients adhered to their personal glaucoma medications, and the most frequent cause of nonadherence was forgetfulness (39.9%), whereas the least common was stopping the drug after feeling better (7.0%)., Conclusion: Proper patient education and explanation of the seriousness of medication adherence and its association with treatment outcomes, along with assisting old and disabled patients when applying ophthalmic medications, may positively improve the adherence of patients to glaucoma and other related visual impairment medications., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Royal Medical Services Human Research Ethics Committee issued approval 9/1/2018. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: This work was supported and funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research and Innovation at Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan (grant no.: 2022-2023/17/49). Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Alhusban et al.)
- Published
- 2024
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