An exploratory study of compliance to anti-glaucoma medications among literate primary glaucoma patients at an urban tertiary eye care center in South India

PURPOSE: To understand the factors that explain compliance to anti-glaucoma medication (AGM) in terms of application,purchase, stocking and compliance behaviour. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the outpatient department of an urban tertiary eye care center in South India. Interviews were completed with consenting, consecutive, literate primary glaucoma patients. The components of the questionnaire included duration, application, purchase, stocking and caregiver's role. Self-reported compliance in medication taking was tested for association with rest of the components by Chi-square test and discriminant analysis. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients, aged 34–87 years, were interviewed. Majority (64.4%) were on AGM for more than two years. Early purchase was reported among 44.3% and stocking among 41.2%. Cost was high for income among 28.7%. Majority (91.1%) of them were not aware of side-effects. Fear of blindness was the major factor (68.1%) encouraging regular usage. Half (50.5%) of the patients though, still reported missing medication in the past month. Major reasons cited were relative priority (45.1%) and forgetfulness (35.3%). Self-reported compliance was not different by demographic variables or with responses to questions regarding duration (P = 0.070), application (0.825), time of purchase (0.272), stocking (0.598), and cost perception (0.415). CONCLUSION: Self-reporting of AGM compliance behaviour did not reflect with responses regarding application, purchase, stocking behaviour or cost perception. Awareness and knowledge of the above factors, with an aim of improving compliance by regulating counselling for even literate patients using AGM is called for.