title: Factors associated with failure to follow up after glaucoma screening: a study in an African American population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate variables associated with failure to access free eye care after participating in glaucoma screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of responses to a survey completed by participants during glaucoma screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred seventy-three surveys completed by participants of African descent during screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  African Americans 40 years or older participated in community glaucoma screening clinics, which included a survey with demographic and social variables. Each participant was given a preliminary diagnosis and encouraged to attend a free eye clinic for a complete examination. Survey results were correlated with attendance at the follow-up examination, using Student's t test, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Noncompliance with follow-up after glaucoma screening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When adjusting for risk factors in logistic regression analysis, noncompliance was associated with living alone (P = 0.008), smoking (P = 0.0005), and lacking a car (P<0.01). Odds of noncompliance for participants living alone were 2.2 times higher than those for participants not living alone. Odds of noncompliance for participants who smoked were 3.0 times greater than those for participants who did not smoke. Odds of noncompliance for participants who did not have access to a car for their last eye examination were 2.1 times greater than those for participants who did.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic factors such as smoking, lack of access to a car for eye examinations, and living alone are associated with noncompliance to follow-up after glaucoma screening clinics. Identifying persons with these variables may facilitate improved compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8061, USA.
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gwira
authors.forename: Setareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vistamehr
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shelsta
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bashford
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palmisano
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shafranov
authors.forename: M Bruce
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking; D014186:Transportation