Personality traits, depression, and objectively measured adherence to once-daily prostaglandin analog medication in glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of personality traits, depression, and training on objectively measured adherence to once-daily prostaglandin analog medication.


METHODS
Adherence was measured with the Travalert Dosing Aid on 58 consecutive, regularly followed-up glaucoma patients already on self-administered travoprost. Before the 3-month data-collection period all patients received training on use of the device. Psychologic characteristics were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and Beck Hopeless Scale and Depression Inventory. An adherent day was defined as travoprost instillation at 9 PM +/-2 hours.


RESULTS
Adherence was 77% for the total period. Social desirability was higher than normal (U test, P<0.0001). Seven patients (12.1%) showed mild-to-moderate depression, which was not significantly associated with decreased adherence (Kruskal-Wallis test, P=0.071). Severity of glaucoma, number of ocular and systemic medications, satisfaction with the recording device, and socio-economic characteristics had no influence on adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
Objectively measured adherence to once-daily prostaglandin analog medication was good, and not influenced by treatment characteristics or patient factors including mild-to-moderate depression. The elevated social desirability suggests that self-reported adherence is not a reliable measure of adherence in glaucoma.
Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Gábor
G
Holló
Péter
P
Kóthy
Anna
A
Géczy
Péter
P
Vargha
D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003008:Cloprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000069557:Travoprost
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D003008:Cloprostenol; D000069557:Travoprost