title: The effect of intensive education on concordance with the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) recommendations in a tertiary referral practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) showed that supplementation with their formula led to a significant decrease in progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study aims to assess the effect of different education protocols on concordance with the trial recommendations in two retinal clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective controlled survey of concordance with the AREDS recommendations in two retinal clinics was administered to 330 patients with AREDS category 3 or 4 AMD. The results were evaluated to assess the effect of differing levels of patient education. In clinic 1, there was a formal policy of giving the patient both verbal and written instructions and verbal repetition of these instructions from each staff member on each patient visit; in clinic 2, there was no specific education policy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinic 1 had a concordance rate of 81.6% and clinic 2 of 44.1%. There were no significant differences in the patient demographics between the two clinics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high concordance rate can be achieved in clinical practice with rigorous patient education that includes a policy of having continual repetition of instructions.
authors.affiliation: Eye and Vision Research Institute, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Travers R E
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Beaumont
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D015032:Zinc; D001205:Ascorbic Acid