title: Glaucoma awareness and access to healthcare: perceptions among glaucoma patients in Tanzania.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the barriers to access to eye health services for patients with glaucoma in Tanzania with the aim of identifying key areas for improvement and further research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative investigation using face-to-face semi-structured interviews with patients recruited from the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) outpatient eye clinic. This project is part of the international strategy of the Research into Glaucoma and Ethnicity (ReGAE) programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were conducted with the help of a translator; all data were transcribed in Swahili and then translated into English. Manual coding and qualitative analysis was used to identify major themes and relevant concepts. Data were collected during May and June 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative data on glaucoma awareness and access to healthcare.
  
  
  RESULTS
  12 patients (7 men, 5 women) of mean age 67.5 years (range 53-86 years) were interviewed. All participants had a previous diagnosis of glaucoma and no other eye conditions. The understanding of glaucoma was limited and the capacity for healthcare providers to improve glaucoma knowledge seemed underused. Participants had particular difficulty in understanding the aetiology and chronicity of the disease. Socioeconomic factors also posed significant barriers to service usage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among many barriers to access to health services for patients with glaucoma, knowledge of the condition was identified as a key issue. Enhancing the understanding of glaucoma may improve access by triggering earlier presentation, informing those at risk and improving adherence to treatment. This is an area for further research with potential for improving service provision.
authors.affiliation: Walsall Manor Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Jeremy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gilmour-White
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement, Faculty of Education Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement, Faculty of Education Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK.
authors.forename: Vinette
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: Eye Department, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Makupa
authors.affiliation: Eye Department, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania International Centre for Eye Health, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Philippin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009907:Optometry / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Access; Healthcare; Tanzania