COMPLIANCE WITH MEDICAL THERAPY IN GLAUCOMA PATIENTS IN THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL, ABUJA.

Abstract

Aim: To determine the adherence to drug therapy of glaucoma patients at the National hospital, Abuja 
and factors affecting compliance with medical therapy.
Methods: This was a prospective study which was carried out among patients with Primary open angle 
glaucoma at the Eye clinic of the National Hospital Abuja. All glaucoma patients presenting for the first 
time in the hospital eye clinic over a one year period with a diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma 
were enrolled in the study. Data was obtained using interviewer administered questionnaires. The 
patients were followed up for a minimum period of 3 months to determine the level of compliance and 
reasons for default. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 
version 15.
Results: Only 110 patients (72.3%) of the 152 glaucoma patients met the inclusion criteria of a minimum 
follow up of 3 months. The frequency of instillation showed that 63 patients (57.3%) used drops once 
daily, 46 (41.8%) used drops twice daily and 1 patient (0.9%) used drops thrice daily. Compliance rate in 
this study was 71.8%. The majority of patients (56.4%) were in compliance grade II. The main reason for 
missing doses was forgetfulness (64.5%) and the majority of them were in group II. The time of day 
patients were most likely miss their drugs was at night followed by the morning dose. Patients with mild 
to moderate visual field defects were more likely to be compliant than those with severe visual field 
defect (p<0.05). Educational status and occupation were significantly associated with compliance 
(p<0.01). Those with tertiary level of education were most likely to comply with medical therapy when 
compared with those with lower levels of education. Those in higher occupational classes were also 
more likely to comply with medical treatment when compared with those in the lower levels. Patients 
with higher monthly incomes complied better than patients with lower monthly incomes (p<0.01). Good 
knowledge was significantly associated with good compliance. 
Conclusion: Glaucoma patients attending the Eye Clinic of the National Hospital, Abuja complied better 
with medical therapy compared with what was reported in previous studies from other parts of Nigeria. 
Patients who had good knowledge of the disease, glaucoma, complied better than those who had poor 
knowledge. Furthermore, knowing the name of the disease was significantly associated with good 
compliance.