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. 2016 Jan 8:10:19-25.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S89336. eCollection 2016.

Factors contributing to nonadherence to follow-up appointments in a resident glaucoma clinic versus primary eye care clinic

Scott J Fudemberg  1 , Brian Lee  1 , Michael Waisbourd  1 , Rachel A Murphy  1 , Yang Dai  1 , Benjamin E Leiby  2 , Lisa A Hark  1
Affiliations

Factors contributing to nonadherence to follow-up appointments in a resident glaucoma clinic versus primary eye care clinic

Scott J Fudemberg et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the rate of adherence to follow-up appointment recommendations in a resident glaucoma clinic with no mechanism for reminders, compared to a resident cataract and primary eye care (CPEC) clinic in which telephone reminders were used, and to identify factors that contribute to adherence in each patient group.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included subjects in the CPEC clinic who received telephone reminders and those in the glaucoma clinic who did not. Each sample was selected to have a similar proportion of follow-up recommendations for 1, 3, and 6 months. Subjects were considered adherent if they returned within a specified timeframe.

Results: A total of 144 subjects from the glaucoma clinic and 151 subjects from the CPEC clinic were included. There was no significant difference between follow-up adherence rates of patients who received telephone reminders and those who did not (odds ratio [OR] =1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-2.32, P=0.28). Patients who were on more than two ocular medications were more likely to return for follow-up (OR=3.11, 95% CI 1.53-6.35, P=0.0018). Subjects between the ages 50 and 80 years were more likely to be adherent compared to their younger and older peers (P=0.02).

Conclusion: The follow-up adherence of patients in a CPEC clinic who received telephone reminders was similar to patients in a glaucoma clinic who did not receive any intervention to increase their adherence. Younger (⩽50 years old) and elderly (⩾80 years old) subjects, as well as patients using less than two glaucoma medications, were less likely to adhere to their follow-up appointments.

Keywords: age; glaucoma; medications; patient adherence; retrospective studies; telephone reminders.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Procedure for sample selection. Abbreviation: CPEC, cataract and primary eye care.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scheduling procedure for the (A) CPEC clinic and the (B) glaucoma clinic, the control group. Abbreviation: CPEC, cataract and primary eye care.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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