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Patient Compliance with Anti-Glaucoma Medication at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Jamaica

Patient Compliance with Anti-Glaucoma Medication at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Jamaica

Ms. Deborah Dietrich, Ms.Tashianna Willoughby, Dr. Donald Cameron-Swaby, Dr. Kenneth James, & Dr. Marsha-Lyn McKoy
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Basic Medical Sciences
Theme: 
Pharmaceuticals, Nutraceuticals, Health and Well-Being

Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease, usually involving high pressure in the eye. It is the second leading cause of blindness globally. Early diagnosis and consistent treatment reduces the likelihood of blindness.

Glaucoma is more prevalent in black populations, especially those within the Caribbean. It is therefore important to assess how compliant patients are with their anti-glaucoma medication in Jamaica and determine possible factors which may affect their compliance.

Consecutive adult patients (n=117) who attended the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Glaucoma Clinic over a 3-month period (April -June 2017) were interviewed. Ethical approval was obtained from the UHWI/UWI/FMS Ethics Committee. Prostaglandin analogues (35%) were most commonly prescribed. All patients prescribed prostaglandin analogues, muscarinic agonists, or a fixed combination of beta-blockers with prostaglandin analogue were fully compliant.

Overall, 80% of patients were fully compliant.The main reasons reported for lack of full compliance were forgetfulness (68%) and the high cost of medication (23%). Most (73%) patients stated that their medication was too expensive, although 81% of patients had health insurance.In conclusion, there was high level of compliance with the use of anti-glaucoma medication among patients.

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