Adherence to glaucoma medication, illness perceptions, and beliefs about glaucoma: Attitudinal perspectives among Turkish population

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the topical glaucoma eye drops adherence prevalence and its association with beliefs and illness perceptions about glaucoma in Turkey. We also aimed to explore the factors linked to patients’ total, voluntary, and involuntary non-adherence to medication in different patient attitudes. Material and Methods: A prospective study with cross-sectional design which included a total of 317 glaucoma patients who completed questionnaires. We assessed the adherence to medication, illness perceptions, and the beliefs about the glaucoma treatment by the “Reported Adherence to Medication scale,” “the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire,” and “the Beliefs about Medicine-Specific Questionnaire,” respectively. According to the RAM scale, voluntary and involuntary non-adherence scores were also distinguished. Different adherence categories in RAM scale were compared with perception and belief measures. Patient attitudes were assessed from the BMQ. We also performed attitudinal type comparisons with different adherence groups. Results: The full adherence prevelance to glaucoma medication was 40%. The proportion of voluntary and involuntary non-adherence was 26% and 57%, respectively. The adherence groups were similar in terms of belief measures but statistically different according to illness perceptions (consequences (p = 0.002), timeline (p = 0.008), personal control (p = 0.001), identity (p = 0.019), concerns (p = 0.003)), and attitude types (ambivalent (p = 0.030) and accepting (p = 0.029)). Conclusion: New strategies are required to improve patient adherence to glaucoma medication in Turkey. The beliefs about the glaucoma treatment and illness perceptions are also needed to be enhanced.