International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science

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Glaucoma Education Intervention: Using a Trained Volunteer to Improve Patient Understanding and Compliance

Received: Jun. 28, 2018    Accepted: Jul. 23, 2018    Published: Aug. 17, 2018
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Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess patients’ experience and acceptability of an educational intervention run by volunteers to provide information about glaucoma, with the goal of improving patients’ understanding about glaucoma. Clinicians referred patients attending glaucoma clinics at one trust to volunteers for education about glaucoma, surgical or laser interventions and eye drop technique. Patients were subsequently contacted by telephone to complete a satisfaction survey with five responses ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. 68 patients were referred to the volunteers over a 7 month period. 27 (40%) were interviewed by telephone. All were happy with their experience of the volunteer service with 23 patients (57.5%) strongly agreeing that they were comfortable speaking to a volunteer, 18 (45%) strongly agreeing that the volunteer was able to answer their questions and explain the condition properly and 22 (55%) strongly agreeing that speaking with the volunteer was a positive experience. 17 (42.5%) strongly agreed that they had better knowledge and understanding about glaucoma and 22 (55%) strongly agreed that they understood the importance regular therapy. Of the 17 patients surveyed about eye drop technique, 14 (82.4%) strongly agreed they were more confident with their technique. Patients were comfortable and accepting of the volunteer scheme and reported better understanding of glaucoma. Using volunteers to educate patients helps clinicians and improves compliance.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijovs.20180302.13
Published in International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science ( Volume 3, Issue 2, June 2018 )
Page(s) 27-31
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Glaucoma, Patient Education, Compliance, Adherence, Volunteers, Non-Medical Assistants

References
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[3] Spooner JJ, Bullano MF, Ikeda LI, Cockerham TR, Waugh WJ, Johnson T, et al. Rates of discontinuation and change of glaucoma therapy in a managed care setting. Am J Manag Care. 2002; 8 (10 Suppl): S262–70.
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[17] Muir KW, Ventura A, Stinnett SS, Enfiedjian A, Allingham RR, Lee PP. The influence of health literacy level on an educational intervention to improve glaucoma medication adherence. Patient Educ Couns. 2012; 87 (2): 160–164.
[18] Friedman DS, Quigley HA, Gelb L, Tan J, Margolis J, Shah SN, et al. Using pharmacy claims data to study adherence to glaucoma medications: methodology and findings of the Glaucoma Adherence and Persistency Study (GAPS). Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2007; 48 (11): 5052–5057.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Mital Shah, Asifa Shaikh. (2018). Glaucoma Education Intervention: Using a Trained Volunteer to Improve Patient Understanding and Compliance. International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 3(2), 27-31. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20180302.13

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    ACS Style

    Mital Shah; Asifa Shaikh. Glaucoma Education Intervention: Using a Trained Volunteer to Improve Patient Understanding and Compliance. Int. J. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2018, 3(2), 27-31. doi: 10.11648/j.ijovs.20180302.13

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    AMA Style

    Mital Shah, Asifa Shaikh. Glaucoma Education Intervention: Using a Trained Volunteer to Improve Patient Understanding and Compliance. Int J Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2018;3(2):27-31. doi: 10.11648/j.ijovs.20180302.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijovs.20180302.13,
      author = {Mital Shah and Asifa Shaikh},
      title = {Glaucoma Education Intervention: Using a Trained Volunteer to Improve Patient Understanding and Compliance},
      journal = {International Journal of Ophthalmology & Visual Science},
      volume = {3},
      number = {2},
      pages = {27-31},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijovs.20180302.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20180302.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijovs.20180302.13},
      abstract = {The aim of this study is to assess patients’ experience and acceptability of an educational intervention run by volunteers to provide information about glaucoma, with the goal of improving patients’ understanding about glaucoma. Clinicians referred patients attending glaucoma clinics at one trust to volunteers for education about glaucoma, surgical or laser interventions and eye drop technique. Patients were subsequently contacted by telephone to complete a satisfaction survey with five responses ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. 68 patients were referred to the volunteers over a 7 month period. 27 (40%) were interviewed by telephone. All were happy with their experience of the volunteer service with 23 patients (57.5%) strongly agreeing that they were comfortable speaking to a volunteer, 18 (45%) strongly agreeing that the volunteer was able to answer their questions and explain the condition properly and 22 (55%) strongly agreeing that speaking with the volunteer was a positive experience. 17 (42.5%) strongly agreed that they had better knowledge and understanding about glaucoma and 22 (55%) strongly agreed that they understood the importance regular therapy. Of the 17 patients surveyed about eye drop technique, 14 (82.4%) strongly agreed they were more confident with their technique. Patients were comfortable and accepting of the volunteer scheme and reported better understanding of glaucoma. Using volunteers to educate patients helps clinicians and improves compliance.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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    AB  - The aim of this study is to assess patients’ experience and acceptability of an educational intervention run by volunteers to provide information about glaucoma, with the goal of improving patients’ understanding about glaucoma. Clinicians referred patients attending glaucoma clinics at one trust to volunteers for education about glaucoma, surgical or laser interventions and eye drop technique. Patients were subsequently contacted by telephone to complete a satisfaction survey with five responses ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. 68 patients were referred to the volunteers over a 7 month period. 27 (40%) were interviewed by telephone. All were happy with their experience of the volunteer service with 23 patients (57.5%) strongly agreeing that they were comfortable speaking to a volunteer, 18 (45%) strongly agreeing that the volunteer was able to answer their questions and explain the condition properly and 22 (55%) strongly agreeing that speaking with the volunteer was a positive experience. 17 (42.5%) strongly agreed that they had better knowledge and understanding about glaucoma and 22 (55%) strongly agreed that they understood the importance regular therapy. Of the 17 patients surveyed about eye drop technique, 14 (82.4%) strongly agreed they were more confident with their technique. Patients were comfortable and accepting of the volunteer scheme and reported better understanding of glaucoma. Using volunteers to educate patients helps clinicians and improves compliance.
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Author Information
  • Department of Ophthalmology, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK

  • Department of Ophthalmology, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK

  • Section