title: Patient and ophthalmologist attitudes concerning compliance and dosing in glaucoma treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify research avenues that might improve patient compliance with glaucoma therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  500 patients and physicians were interviewed by telephone in 5 European countries, and the results were compiled and evaluated by 2 independent physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most physicians believed that pressure reduction is useful (UK (96%), France (94%), Spain (80%), Italy (72%), and Germany (70%), p < 0.0001). The majority of physicians believed that noncompliance exists in 0%-25% of patients, whereas 34% of patients admitted to noncompliance. Physicians believed patients would prefer once-daily dosing (92%) and that it would help compliance, whereas 60% of patients preferred once-daily dosing, and 20% of patients believed it would help compliance. Physicians (94%) believed that noncompliance could lead to visual loss and, while this information concerned most physicians, this was less likely in Germany (52%) (p < 0.0001). Most patients received information concerning dosing of their medicines (79%), and, accordingly, waited an average of 10 minutes between doses; but only half of the patients had been told to wait at least 5 minutes between instilling preparations. Approximately 2 of 3 patients knew that missing medicines could cause visual loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Once-daily dosing to increase patient satisfaction and/or dosing convenience and providing patient education are potential clinical techniques that could be further evaluated as a means to increase compliance.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Network, LLC, Charleston, SC 29412-2464, USA. info@prnorb.com
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Anastasios G P
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Konstas
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions