title: Prevalence and determinants of non-adherence to topical hypotensive treatment in Dutch glaucoma patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the prevalence and determinants of non-adherence to topical hypotensive treatment in glaucoma patients in order to support interventions targeting enhancement of patient adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred and sixty-six glaucoma patients, recruited by nationwide multi-stage sampling, filled in an extensive and carefully developed questionnaire covering various theoretically relevant determinants of patient adherence which were categorized as psychosocial aspects, barriers and skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of self-reported non-adherence was 27.3%. Younger patients (<55 years of age) had a higher risk of being non-adherent. Forgetfulness, unavailability of eye drops and difficulties with holding the bottle above the eye when applying the eye drops were the most cited reasons for non-adherence. Fifty percent of the patients indicated that they required more information on the correct administration of eye drops. There was no association between non-adherence and sex, level of education, type of insurance, duration of disease or family history of glaucoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-adherence to topical glaucoma medication is fairly common. Aids that minimize forgetfulness and delivery systems facilitating the delivery of medications to the eye could be considered to enhance patient adherence before advancing to other therapies with additional risks and costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Cologne Hospitals, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine M G
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Olthoff
authors.forename: Juliette G M M
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hoevenaars
authors.forename: Bart W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: van den Borne
authors.forename: Carroll A B
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Webers
authors.forename: Jan S A G
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Schouten
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012646:Self Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions