title: How glaucoma patient characteristics, self-efficacy and patient-provider communication are associated with eye drop technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which patient characteristics, eye drop technique self-efficacy, and ophthalmologist-patient communication about eye drop administration are associated with glaucoma patients' ability to instil a single drop, have the drop land in the eye, and avoid touching the applicator tip of the medication bottle to the eye or face while self-administering eye drops.
  
  
  METHODS
  Glaucoma patients (n = 279) were recruited from six ophthalmology clinics. Medical visits were videotape-recorded. Afterwards, patients were interviewed and demonstrated administering an eye drop on a videotaped-recording. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyse the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ophthalmologists provided eye drop administration instruction to 40 patients. Patients with more years of education were significantly more likely to both instil a single drop (P = 0.017) and have the drop land in their eye (P = 0.017). Women were significantly more likely to touch the applicator tip to their eyes or face (P = 0.014). Patients with severe glaucoma (P = 0.016), women (P = 0.026), and patients who asked at least one eye drop administration question (P = 0.001) were significantly less likely to instil a single drop. Patients with arthritis were significantly less likely to have the drop land in their eye (P = 0.008). African American patients were significantly less likely to touch the applicator tip to their eyes or face (P = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some glaucoma patients have a difficult time self-administering eye drops. As so few patients received eye drop administration instruction from their providers, there is an opportunity for pharmacists to complement care.
authors: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Robyn
authors: R
authors: Sayner
authors: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Asheville, NC, USA.
authors: Delesha M
authors: DM
authors: Carpenter
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.|Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Alan L
authors: AL
authors: Robin
authors: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Susan J
authors: SJ
authors: Blalock
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors: Kelly W
authors: KW
authors: Muir
authors: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Vitko
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors: Mary Elizabeth
authors: ME
authors: Hartnett
authors: Glaucoma Service, University of North Carolina Kittner Eye Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Scott D
authors: SD
authors: Lawrence
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Annette L
authors: AL
authors: Giangiacomo
authors: Department of Science and Mathematics, Institutional Research, Husson University, Bangor, ME, USA.
authors: Gail
authors: G
authors: Tudor
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors: Jason A
authors: JA
authors: Goldsmith
authors: Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.|Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Betsy
authors: B
authors: Sleath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D058015:Health Communication; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000072163:Ophthalmologists; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012646:Self Administration / Q000379:methods; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014743:Videotape Recording; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions
keywords: eye drop instillation; glaucoma; patient question-asking; patient-provider communication; self-efficacy