Patient-Physician Communication on Medication Cost during Glaucoma Visits.

SIGNIFICANCE: This article is the first to investigate the nature of medication cost discussions between ophthalmologists and glaucoma patients. Only 87 of the 275 office visits analyzed had a discussion of medication cost. Providers should consider discussing medication cost with patients to identify potential cost-related barriers to medication use. PURPOSE: Glaucoma is an incurable chronic eye disease affecting a growing portion of the aging population. Some of the most commonly utilized treatments require lifelong use, requiring high patient adherence to ensure effectiveness. There are numerous barriers to glaucoma treatment adherence in the literature, including cost. The aim of this secondary analysis was to describe the frequency and nature of patient-physician communication regarding medication cost during glaucoma office visits. METHODS: This was a mixed-methods secondary analysis of video-recorded participant office visits (n = 275) from a larger observational study of glaucoma communication. We analyzed medical information, demographic characteristics, and interviewer-administrated questionnaires, as well as verbatim transcripts of interviews. RESULTS: Only 87 participants discussed medication cost during their glaucoma office visit. The majority of the subjects who discussed cost had mild disease severity (51%), took one glaucoma medication (63%), and had Medicare (49%) as well as a form of prescription insurance (78%). The majority of glaucoma office visits did not discuss medication cost, and providers often did not ask about cost problems. Of the few conversations related to cost, most focused on providers offering potential solutions (n = 50), medical and prescription service coverage (n = 41), and brand or generic medication choices (n = 41). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are similar to previous studies showing few patients have conversations with providers about the cost of glaucoma medications. Providers should consider bringing up medication cost during glaucoma office visits to prompt a discussion of potential cost-related barriers to medication use.

Glaucoma patient expression of medication problems and nonadherence.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine if patient demographic factors influenced self-reporting of medication side effects, difficulty with drop instillation, and nonadherence to glaucoma therapy. METHODS: English-speaking adult glaucoma patients (n = 279) from six ophthalmology clinics were enrolled. Patients' medical visits were videotaped and patients were interviewed immediately afterward by research assistants. The videotapes were transcribed verbatim and coded to identify patients who expressed problems with medication side effects, eye drop administration, and nonadherence during the glaucoma office visits. Generalized estimating equations were performed to identify whether patient characteristics were associated with expression of problems with glaucoma medication and medication nonadherence during the office visit. RESULTS: Patients with lower health literacy were significantly less likely to express problems with side effects (odds ratio [OR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25 to 0.88) and eye drop administration (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.63) during the visit. Patients who reported eye drop administration and side effect problems during the interview were significantly more likely to express these problems to their ophthalmologist (OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.82 to 5.37 and OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.12 to 3.08, respectively). Patients who expressed a problem with eye drop administration and with side effects were significantly more likely to express medication nonadherence to their ophthalmologist (OR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.44 to 5.80 and OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.16 to 3.54, respectively). Patients who reported greater than 80% medication adherence during the interview were significantly less likely to express nonadherence to their ophthalmologist (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.40). CONCLUSIONS: Eye care providers should be aware that glaucoma patients with lower health literacy are less likely to express problems with side effects and eye drop administration. Providers should work with patients to assess medication-related problems to mitigate potential barriers to medication adherence because patients who expressed medication problems were also more likely to express nonadherence.

Ophthalmologist-patient communication, self-efficacy, and glaucoma medication adherence.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of provider-patient communication, glaucoma medication adherence self-efficacy, and outcome expectations with glaucoma medication adherence. DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred seventy-nine patients with glaucoma who were newly prescribed or taking glaucoma medications were recruited at 6 ophthalmology clinics. METHODS: Patients' visits were video recorded and communication variables were coded using a detailed coding tool developed by the authors. Adherence was measured using Medication Event Monitoring Systems for 60 days after their visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The following adherence variables were measured for the 60-day period after their visits: whether the patient took 80% or more of the prescribed doses, percentage of the correct number of prescribed doses taken each day, and percentage of the prescribed doses taken on time. RESULTS: Higher glaucoma medication adherence self-efficacy was associated positively with better adherence with all 3 measures. Black race was associated negatively with percentage of the correct number of doses taken each day (ß = -0.16; P < 0.05) and whether the patient took 80% or more of the prescribed doses (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.86). Physician education about how to administer drops was associated positively with percentage of the correct number of doses taken each day (ß = 0.18; P < 0.01) and percentage of the prescribed doses taken on time (ß = 0.15; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that provider education about how to administer glaucoma drops and patient glaucoma medication adherence self-efficacy are associated positively with adherence.

Provider use of collaborative goal setting with glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this preliminary study was to describe the extent to which providers used collaborative goal setting and individualized assessment with patients who were newly prescribed glaucoma medications. METHODS: English-speaking glaucoma suspect patients from six ophthalmology clinics who were newly prescribed glaucoma medications had their medical visits videotaped and were interviewed after the visits. The videotapes were transcribed and coded to examine provider use of collaborative goal setting and individualized assessment. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients seeing 12 ophthalmologists participated. Providers gave patients glaucoma treatment options during 37% of the visits; only five providers gave patients treatment options Providers asked for patient treatment preferences in less than 20% of the visits; only two providers asked for patient treatment preferences. Providers were significantly more likely to ask African American patients for their preferences or ideas concerning treatment than non-African American patients (Pearson χ² = 4.1, p = 0.04). Providers were also significantly more likely to ask African American patients about their confidence in using glaucoma medication regularly than non-African American patients (Pearson χ² = 8.2, p = 0.004). Providers asked about patient views about glaucoma in less than 20% of the visits; five providers asked patients their views on glaucoma and its treatment. Providers were significantly more likely to ask African American patients about their views on glaucoma than non-African American patients (Pearson χ² = 5.62, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Eye care providers often did not use collaborative goal setting or conduct individualized assessments of patient views on glaucoma when prescribing treatment for the first time.

Determinants of Self-Reported Barriers to Glaucoma Medicine Administration and Adherence: A Multisite Study.

BACKGROUND: Many factors influence glaucoma medication adherence. A better understanding of the relationships between health literacy, depressive symptoms, and patient-reported problems in using glaucoma medications may reveal opportunities for intervention that could improve patients' clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between patient characteristics (demographics, health literacy, and depressive symptoms) and patient-reported problems in using glaucoma medications and to assess factors related to patients' self-reported adherence to glaucoma medications. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (n = 228) currently taking intraocular pressure-lowering medications were recruited at 6 ophthalmology clinics. Patients were interviewed to identify problems using glaucoma medications, and self-reported medication adherence was determined using a Visual Analog Scale. Questionnaires were administered to assess health literacy, depressive symptoms, outcome expectations, and medication self-efficacy. RESULTS: Younger patients (P = 0.03), patients with depressive symptoms (P = 0.02), and patients who reported more medication problems (P = 0.005) were significantly less adherent to their glaucoma medications. Patients with higher glaucoma medication self-efficacy adherence scores (P = 0.003) and higher outcome expectations (P = 0.03) were significantly more adherent. CONCLUSIONS: Providers should consider using tools to screen glaucoma patients for depressive symptoms and for problems in using medications to identify patients who are at higher risk of nonadherence to treatment and who might benefit from follow-up with primary care providers.

Patient-rheumatologist communication concerning prescription medications: getting to the gist.

OBJECTIVE: Fuzzy trace theory was used to develop a coding scheme that captures the gist that patients extract from information about medication risks and benefits and to explore the extent to which different patients extract different gist representations from the same information. METHODS: Data were collected from 2003-2007 in a study that included audiotape recording office visits that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients had with their rheumatologists. Each patient (n = 365) had up to 3 visits audiotape recorded. The audiotapes were transcribed to facilitate content analysis. Four patients with RA who did not participate in the original study guided development of the coding scheme and used it to code the transcripts. RESULTS: The coding scheme contains 14 gist themes centering on medication effectiveness, need, and safety. There was considerable variation among the gist coders in the specific themes they extracted from individual transcripts. We observed the greatest intercoder agreement for the 4 gist theme variables related to whether the rheumatologist wanted to make changes to the medication regimen. Furthermore, the coders rarely used the "not clear" category to code these 4 variables. In contrast, intercoder agreement for the remaining gist themes, which were designed to capture issues central to the communication of information about medication risks and benefits, was low and the "not clear" category was used more frequently. CONCLUSION: Our study findings suggest that different people exposed to the same information may form different gist representations. Patient-provider communication concerning medication risks and benefits might be enhanced by better understanding the factors that influence the gist extraction process.

An evaluation of physicians' engagement of children with asthma in treatment-related discussions.

Our objectives were to examine whether providers engage children with asthma in treatment-related discussions at the level children prefer (engagement concordance) and to determine whether engagement concordance is related to child, caregiver, and provider characteristics. Children with asthma (n = 296) aged 8-16 years were recruited at five pediatric practices in North Carolina. Using audiotaped medical visit transcripts, we documented the number of treatment-related questions the providers asked the children. Children reported their preferred level of provider engagement. A logistic generalized estimating equation was used to determine which variables predicted engagement concordance. Most children (96.6%) wanted to be involved in treatment-related discussions. One-third of the providers did not ask children any treatment-related questions. Only 36.1% of provider-child dyads were concordant. Most discordant dyads were under-engaged (83.1%). Better engagement concordance was observed among older children (odds ratio (OR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.07, 1.33)), male children (OR = 1.67, 95% CI (1.03, 2.70)), and among providers with fewer years in practice (OR = .97, 95% CI (.94, .99)). Providers engaged in treatment-related discussions with younger children and females less frequently than these children preferred. Providers should ask children how much they want to be involved in treatment-related discussions and then attempt to engage children at the level they prefer.

Communication about ADHD and its treatment during pediatric asthma visits.

The objectives of the study were to examine provider-family communication about attention deficit disorder during pediatric asthma visits. Children with asthma, aged 8 through 16 and their parents were recruited at five pediatric practices. All medical visits were audio-taped. There were 296 asthmatic children enrolled into the study and 67 of them also had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD communication elements suggested by national guidelines were discussed infrequently. Providers were more likely to discuss, educate, and ask one or more questions about ADHD medications if the visit was non-asthma related. Providers included child input into the ADHD treatment regimen during 3% of visits and they included parent input during 4.5% of visits. Only one child and three parents asked questions about ADHD. Providers may neglect essential aspects of good ADHD management and communication in children who have ADHD plus another chronic condition such as asthma. Providers should set appropriate treatment expectations, establish target symptoms, and encourage children and parents to ask questions so mutual decision-making can occur.

Communication during pediatric asthma visits and self-reported asthma medication adherence.

OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to examine how certain aspects of provider-patient communication recommended by national asthma guidelines (ie, provider asking for child and caregiver input into the asthma treatment plan) were associated with child asthma medication adherence 1 month after an audio-taped medical visit. METHODS: Children ages 8 through 16 with mild, moderate, or severe persistent asthma and their caregivers were recruited at 5 pediatric practices in nonurban areas of North Carolina. All medical visits were audio-tape recorded. Children were interviewed 1 month after their medical visits, and both children and caregivers reported the child's control medication adherence. Generalized estimating equations were used to determine if communication during the medical visit was associated with medication adherence 1 month later. RESULTS: Children (n = 259) completed a home visit interview ∼1 month after their audio-taped visit, and 216 of these children were taking an asthma control medication at the time of the home visit. Children reported an average control medication adherence for the past week of 72%, whereas caregivers reported the child's average control medication adherence for the past week was 85%. Child asthma management self-efficacy was significantly associated with both child- and caregiver-reported control medication adherence. When providers asked for caregiver input into the asthma treatment plan, caregivers reported significantly higher child medication adherence 1 month later. CONCLUSIONS: Providers should ask for caregiver input into their child's asthma treatment plan because it may lead to better control medication adherence.