Questionnaire-Based evaluation of patient's awareness on proper eye drop opening and usage among the outpatients visiting a tertiary eye care center in South India: A pilot survey

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study the patient's awareness of the proper method of eye drop (ED) opening and usage among patients attending the outpatient and specialty clinics of a tertiary eye care center in South India. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 514 patients attending outpatient departments of general units and specialty clinics by seven study coordinators. The questionnaire consists of 10 simple questions to assess the awareness of these patients on ED opening, usage methods, and from whom they received the information. Immediately, at the end of the questionnaire, all the patients participating in the survey were properly instructed on the right method of ED usage. In addition, they were inquired about the right mode of communication on the topic of interest. Results: Total number of participants included was 514. Mean age was (standard deviation) 50.58 (20.8) years; only 3.3% (17) were not informed about the proper usage of ED method by any of the staff or the counselors or doctors from the hospital, and 96.7% (497) were counseled for the proper method of ED usage. Among them, the information was properly explained to 82.7% (412) of the respondents by the counselors in each department; only 7.4% (37) were explained by the doctors. Most of them, 80.2% (412), preferred direct oral conversation methods of counseling on ED usage, 9.9% (51) preferred through posters, 7% (36) through video displays, and only 9% (10) through public address systems. Conclusion: A separate, precise ED counseling system is necessary for delivering proper instructions on ED usage and opening. The patient's education with eye-to-eye contact from the counselors is the patient's preferred route of obtaining information on ED usage.