Adherence to topical glaucoma medications and associated factors in Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care Center, northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Medication adherence is one of the important factors that significantly affect the outcome of glaucoma treatment. Good adherence is essential to prevent progressive loss of vision, visual impairment and blindness due to glaucoma. By assessing the adherence of medications and describing the reasons for non-adherence of patients on glaucoma medical therapy, this study provided better information for better outcome of glaucoma treatment.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine proportion of adherence to topical glaucoma medications and associated factors among glaucoma patients in Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, northwest Ethiopia.

METHODS: This cross-sectional design study was conducted on 360 participants from April-May 2017. Structured questionnaire was completed and adherence was assessed by patients' self-report survey. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the determinant factors. The significance was considered at p value less than 0.05. RESULT: More than half, 221 (61.4%) (95% confidence interval: 56.1-66.7), of the study participants were found to adhere well to glaucoma medications. Male sex (adjusted odds ratio = 1.86 (95% confidence interval: 1.13-3.06)), urban residence (adjusted odds ratio = 2.33 (95% confidence interval: 1.46-3.72)), normal visual acuity (adjusted odds ratio = 2.23 (95% confidence interval: 1.13-4.42)), low visual acuity (adjusted odds ratio = 1.74 (95% confidence interval: 1.05-2.88)), and self-sponsor for medications (adjusted odds ratio = 0.21 (95% confidence interval: 0.12-0.38)) were significantly associated with good adherence.

CONCLUSION: The level of medication adherence to topical glaucoma medications is not good enough as compared to other studies done in Ethiopia. Male sex, urban residence, normal, and low visual acuity were positive predictors, whereas self-sponsored for medications was negative predictors for good adherence to glaucoma medications.