Purpose@#To evaluate the effects of an
educational intervention using an
eye drop chart and supplementary
education on
glaucoma patients’ adherence. @*
Methods@#In this multicenter
prospective study, medically treated
glaucoma patients were educated on the
administration of
eye drops using an
eye drop chart. At the
time of recruitment, all of the
patients completed a
questionnaire on demographic characteristics and adherence. Three months after the initial
educational intervention, the
patients were randomly divided into two groups an
education group and a
control group. The
education group received supplementary
education. Immediately thereafter and at 6 months, all of the
patients completed the
questionnaire on adherence again. Changes in instillation
behavior, the relationship between the adherence score and demographic characteristics, and factors contributing to an improvement in adherence and
intraocular pressure were then analyzed. @*Results@#The adherence scores were significantly higher in
patients with fewer medications, a higher annual
income and higher
educational level, and an
urban residence (p = 0.038, p = 0.033, p = 0.041 and p = 0.047, respectively).
Education on the
administration of
eye drops and use of the
eye drop chart improved adherence scores from 23.05 ± 3.52 to 21.30 ± 3.95 (p = 0.021) and significantly reduced the average
intraocular pressure from 14.3 ± 2.9 to 12.4 ± 3.1 mmHg (p < 0.001). Working indoors (
odds ratio [OR] = 5.47, p = 0.032) and supplementary
education at 3 months (OR = 4.53, p = 0.030) were also correlated with improved adherence. @*Conclusions@#An
eye drop chart is an effective tool for improving adherence and
intraocular pressure control in
glaucoma patients. Improvement in adherence was especially notable in
patients whose
work predominantly involved indoor activity. The
effectiveness of the
eye drop chart was improved by supplementary
education.