title: Acceptance, attitudes, and beliefs of Singaporean Chinese toward an ocular implant for glaucoma drug delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated patients' attitudes and perceptions toward a subconjunctival implant as a novel ocular drug delivery method for glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 344 Chinese patients with primary open angle or angle closure glaucoma currently on topical antiglaucoma medication for a minimum of six months from specialist glaucoma clinics. Sociodemographic data, and information about patients' general and ocular health were collected. Beliefs about medicines, glaucoma, eye drops, and self-reported adherence were assessed by trained interviewers using validated questionnaires. A description about the implant was provided and patients subsequently were assessed on their understanding and acceptance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 344 Chinese patients enrolled, 216 (62.8%) would accept the implant as a replacement for their current eye drops. Of those who accepted the implant, 99 (45.8%) were willing to accept it at similar costs, while 40 (18.5%) and 20 (9.3%) patients were willing to pay 1.5 and 2 times the cost of their present medication, respectively. Patients who accepted the implant had more severe glaucoma (P = 0.015) and felt that the implant was more helpful than eye drops (P < 0.001). Beliefs toward medicines, glaucoma, eye drops, self-reported adherence, and sociodemographic factors did not have a significant impact on the patients' decisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An ocular drug implant would be an acceptable alternative to topical eye drops for subgroups of glaucoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Reuben Chao Ming
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.forename: Ecosse L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lamoureux
authors.forename: Ryan C K
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Sue-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Peggy P C
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Gwyneth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Tin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aung
authors.forename: Tina T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004343:Drug Implants