title: Beliefs and adherence to glaucoma treatment: a comparison of patients from diverse cultures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine adherence rates and beliefs about glaucoma and its treatment in white Americans, African Americans, white Australians, and Singaporeans of Chinese descent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 475 glaucoma patients using topical eye drops for at least 6 months. The sample consisted of white Americans (n=133), African Americans (n=58), white Australians (n=107), and Singaporeans of Chinese descent (n=117). Self-reported adherence and beliefs about glaucoma and its treatment were assessed using the Reported Adherence to Medication scale, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the Beliefs about Medicines-Specific Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Accounting for sociodemographic differences, significant differences in self-reported adherence rates were identified (P<0.001). White Americans and Australians reported significantly higher adherence (65.4%, 67.7% reported complete adherence) than African Americans or Singaporeans (56.9%, 47.5%, respectively; P<0.05). Beliefs about glaucoma treatment were predictive of adherence only in the Australian and white American samples (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In western cultures, attempts to improve adherence may benefit from greater examination of individual's concerns about, and perceived need, for glaucoma treatment. Further studies are needed to identify the critical predictors of adherence in nonwestern cultures and to validate measures in these populations.
authors: *Health Services and Ocular Epidemiology Research Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Australia †Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore §Department of Glaucoma, Singapore National Eye Centre ‡Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore ∥Wilmer Eye Institute ¶Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
authors: Gwyneth
authors: G
authors: Rees
authors: Xue-Ling
authors: XL
authors: Chong
authors: Carol Y
authors: CY
authors: Cheung
authors: Tin
authors: T
authors: Aung
authors: David S
authors: DS
authors: Friedman
authors: Jonathan G
authors: JG
authors: Crowston
authors: Ecosse L
authors: EL
authors: Lamoureux
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents