title: Evaluation of eyedrop administration by inexperienced patients after cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate efficacy and safety of eyedrop administration after cataract surgery and to identify predictors of better technique in patients without previous eyedrop experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, McGill University, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyedrop-naïve postoperative cataract patients were consecutively recruited the day after cataract surgery. Data were collected using a standardized self-reporting questionnaire and a chart review and by videotaping patients administering the drops in the operated eye. Two independent observers objectively evaluated the instillation technique. Predictors were assessed using odds ratios (ORs) from a logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study enrolled 54 patients. Subjectively, 17 patients (31%) reported difficulty instilling the eyedrops. Sixty-nine percent reported always washing their hands before using the drops, 42% believed that they never missed their eye when instilling drops, and 58.3% believed they never touched their eye with the bottle tip. Objectively, 50 patients (92.6%) showed an improper administration technique, including missing the eye (31.5%), instilling an incorrect amount of drops (64.0%), contaminating the bottle tip (57.4%), or failing to wash hands before drop instillation (78.0%). A better performance score was significantly associated with having received instructions on how to use drops (OR, 11.99; P=.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative cataract patients inexperienced with eyedrop use showed a poor instillation technique by failing to wash hands, contaminating bottle tips, missing the eye, and using an incorrect amount of drops. There was a large discrepancy between the patients' perceptions and the observed technique of drop administration.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
authors.affiliation: From McGill University Health Centre (An), Jewish General Hospital (Kasner), McGill University (Lévesque), and Royal Victoria Hospital (Samek), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jella Angela
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: From McGill University Health Centre (An), Jewish General Hospital (Kasner), McGill University (Lévesque), and Royal Victoria Hospital (Samek), Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: okasner@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kasner
authors.affiliation: From McGill University Health Centre (An), Jewish General Hospital (Kasner), McGill University (Lévesque), and Royal Victoria Hospital (Samek), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Deborah Anne
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Samek
authors.affiliation: From McGill University Health Centre (An), Jewish General Hospital (Kasner), McGill University (Lévesque), and Royal Victoria Hospital (Samek), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lévesque
mesh_terms: D060433:Administration, Ophthalmic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012646:Self Administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions