In the U.S., over 2 million adults over 40 suffer from glaucoma, and whilst it is possible to reduce the visual field loss of this progressive disease with medication, it is vital to go for regular medical check-ups.

Non-adherence of sticking to the medication regime often presents clinicians with a challenge. A randomized, controlled clinical trial featured Online First in JAMAs Archives of Ophthalmology demonstrated that a telephone survey combined with tailored print materials linked to improving medication adherence in glaucoma patients and a control group failed to show a significant improvement in adherence.

Karen Glanz, Ph.D., M.P.H., from Philadelphia’s University of Pennsylvania and her team assessed 312 patients with glaucoma who failed adhering to their medication regime by failing to take their medication, refill their medicine and/or keeping their medical appointments. The patients were on average almost 63 years old and were patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital and a large public hospital.

The team split the patients into two groups, consisting of a treatment group, who received automated, interactive telephone calls and tailored printed materials, whilst those in the control group received the usual care consisting of medical appointments and medication refills. Based on patient interviews, medical charts and other data, the team measured the participants’ adherence in terms of taking their medication, prescription refills and keeping doctors’ appointments.

They state:

“A statistically significant increase for all adherence measures was noted in both the treatment group and the control group in the I-SIGHT (Interactive Study to Increase Glaucoma Adherence to Treatment) trial. The treatment group had greater improvements in adherence in 4 of 6 categories, but this did not reach statistical significance.”

According to the researchers, so called “motivated patients” that participate in an ongoing clinical trial may improve their treatment adherence even without tailored messages for encouragement. However, they conclude: “New technologies, such as interactive voice recognition and electronic reminder devices, may play a supportive role in the effort to improve adherence in patients with glaucoma, but further study is warranted.”

Written By Petra Rattue