advertisement
Abstract #8798 Published in IGR 5-1
Awareness of glaucoma, and health beliefs of patients suffering primary acute angle closure
Saw SM; Gazzard G; Friedman DS; Foster PJ; Devereux JG; Wong ML; Seah SKBritish Journal of Ophthalmology 2003; 87: 446-449
AIM: To evaluate the factors associated with lack of awareness of glaucoma and late presentation to the doctor in Singapore Chinese patients with acute angle closure (AAC). METHODS: A prospective, hospital based case series was conducted of 105 patients aged 35 years and over who presented with a first attack of AAC in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. A research assistant interviewed all patients face to face in the clinic and recorded demographic factors, awareness of glaucoma, and subjective barriers to seeing a doctor. The time from onset of symptoms to presentation at the clinic was noted. RESULTS: Overall, 22.9% of patients had heard of glaucoma. The multivariate adjusted odds ratio (OR) of unawareness of glaucoma in older people (> 60 years) was 1.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5-4.6), 3.2 (95% CI 1.1- 9.2) for adults who were not working, and 13.8 (95% CI 1.3-146.7) for patients who had less than a pre-university education. A significant proportion (31.7%) of patients presented to the doctor 24 hours or more after symptoms occurred. In a multiple logistic regression model, the adjusted OR of late presentation was 8.5 (95% CI 1.04-69.5) if there was no car access, 5.0 (95% CI 1.0-24.6) if the patients spoke Chinese, and 3.3 (95% CI 0.9-11.9) if there was no-one to accompany the patient to hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma awareness among patients suffering AAC was not high. Lack of awareness was associated with increasing age, lack of formal education, and unemployment. A significant proportion of patients seek medical attention late. Risk factors for late presentation include lack of car access, nobody to accompany the patient, and speaking the Chinese language primarily. Health education programs may help increase the knowledge and awareness of glaucoma.
Dr Seang-Mei Saw, Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Republic of Singapore. cofsawsm@nus.edu.sg
Classification:
9.3.1 Acute primary angle closure glaucoma (pupillary block) (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.3 Primary angle closure glaucomas)
