Determinants of patient behavior in chronic illness : examining educational interventions for glaucoma patients

Providing chronically ill patients with informational support is crucial for successful disease management. The effectiveness of educational interventions was examined utilizing three questionnaires which assessed glaucoma patients' health beliefs, disease knowledge and medication compliance. 60 chronic open-angle glaucoma patients either: watched a glaucoma film, read glaucoma information pamphlets, received instruction verbally from their ophthalmologist or proceeded with their regular check-up. Measures were taken pre-intervention, then 2 and 30 days later. A 3 x 4 mixed ANOVA found a significant interaction between time and intervention in the film group. The relationship between the degree of patient's visual field loss and measures on compliance, health beliefs, and knowledge was also assessed. The positive correlations indicate that patients with modest visual field losses are also those with the highest scores on the three dependent measures. Patients, who have less visual field loss, may possess the behavioral, affective and cognitive components required to successfully manage their illness regimens