What do glaucoma specialists know about their patients?
BACKGROUND
Although interaction between doctor and patient is undoubtedly influenced by their mutual expectations, little information is available about the knowledge and expectations of glaucoma doctors concerning their patients' attitudes and treatment patterns. The aim of our prospective study was to compare the actual responses of glaucoma patients concerning various issues related to their disease and the responses the glaucoma doctors expected their patients to give.


METHODS
Glaucoma patients consecutively sent to our glaucoma centre were asked to complete a standardised questionnaire about their glaucoma history, treatment routines and opinions on issues related to glaucoma. Ophthalmologists at the glaucoma centre were asked to predict patients' answers.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-eight consecutive glaucoma patients completed the patients' questionnaire and 12 glaucoma specialists completed the corresponding questionnaire for doctors. Frequency of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements and visual field testing, as well as the number of topical medications, were relatively accurately predicted by the glaucoma doctors. Differences between the doctors' predictions and patients' responses were found concerning discomfort after surgery and the influence of stress or environmental factors on IOP. The largest range of doctors' predictions (0-100%) was observed concerning the portion of patients claiming a 100% adherence to glaucoma medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Glaucoma specialists are familiar with the treatment patterns of their patients. The knowledge of glaucoma specialists of their patients' subjective attitudes to glaucoma-related issues deserves further investigation, as discrepancies between doctors' and patients' responses were observed in this area.
Dietlein
Thomas S
TS
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9, 50931 Cologne, Germany. Thomas.Dietlein@uk-koeln.de
Jordan
Jens
J
Dinslage
Sven
S
Krieglstein
Günter K
GK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018463:Filtering Surgery; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008511:Medicine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents