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Level of knowledge about glaucoma in Vienna

Informationsstand über die Erkrankung Glaukom in Wien

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Summary

Background

Glaucoma is a chronic and serious disease calling for consistent lifelong therapy. The patient’s compliance requires that he/she be well informed about the disease. The purpose of the present study was to determine the level of knowledge about glaucoma, and compare young patients with older ones as well as glaucoma patients with nonglaucoma ones.

Methods

A total of 1110 questionnaires were distributed to patients and their relatives at the outpatient eye clinic of Hietzing Hospital (Vienna), of which 1041 were returned. The questionnaire comprised 18 questions. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of those aged 18–60 years, while group 2 consisted of those older than 61 years.

Results

In total, 941 questionnaires were evaluated; 72.8 % of the respondents were older than 60 years, and one-half of the respondents had glaucoma (51 %). The majority of patients had “moderate knowledge” of the disease (41.87 %), followed by “poor knowledge” (32.52 %). Glaucoma patients had considerably better knowledge of the disease (p < 0.01) than did nonglaucoma patients. Younger patients were significantly better informed than older ones (p < 0.01). Nonglaucoma patients with a positive diagnosis of glaucoma among their circle of friends or family were significantly better informed (p < 0.01) than those without such persons in their circle of friends.

Conclusion

Persons with glaucoma are much better informed about the disease than nonglaucoma patients, but the general level of knowledge is very low. Notably, younger patients were better informed than older ones. The present study, comprising a large number of patients, revealed poor knowledge of glaucoma among patients with the disease and especially among nonglaucoma patients in Vienna.

Zusammenfassung

Grundlagen

Das Glaukom ist eine chronische, schwerwiegende Erkrankung, welche eine lebenslange, konsequente Therapie erfordert. Voraussetzung für eine gute Compliance ist ein ausreichendes Wissen der PatientInnen zu dieser Erkrankung. Aus diesem Grund war das Studienziel die Ermittlung des Glaukom-Wissensstandes, im Vergleich junge PatientInnen/ältere PatientInnen, Selbstbetroffener/nicht Betroffener.

Methodik

Es wurden 1110 Fragebögen in der Augenambulanz Hietzing verteilt und von 1041 PatientInnen bzw. Angehörigen wieder retourniert. Die Umfrage enthielt insgesamt 18 Fragen. Die PatientInnen wurden in Gruppe 1: (18–60 Jahre) und Gruppe 2: (ab 61 Jahre) geteilt.

Ergebnisse

Ausgewertet wurden 941 Fragebögen. 72,8 % der Befragten waren über 60 Jahre alt. Die Hälfte aller Befragten litt an einem Glaukom (51 %). Der Hauptanteil aller PatientInnen hatte ein „durchschnittliches Wissen“ (41,87 %) gefolgt von „geringes Wissen“ (32,52 %). GlaukompatientInnen wussten signifikant mehr (p < 0,01) als Nichtbetroffene. Es zeigte sich ein signifikant besseres Wissen bei jüngeren PatientInnen im Vergleich zu Älteren (p < 0,01). NichtglaukompatientInnen mit positiver Glaukomdiagnose im Bekanntenkreis hatten ein signifikant besseres Wissen (p < 0,01) als solche ohne Glaukomdiagnose im Bekanntenkreis.

Schlussfolgerungen

Selbstbetroffene hatten zwar ein besseres Wissen im Vergleich zu Nichtbetroffenen, jedoch war dieses Wissen immer noch sehr gering. Im Wissensvergleich jüngere PatientInnen zu älteren PatientInnen überraschte in unserer Studie das schlechtere Abschneiden der Älteren. Insgesamt verdeutlicht unsere Studie mit einer sehr hohen Fallzahl die Wissensdefizite von Glaukomerkrankten und besonders von Nichterkrankten zum Thema Glaukom in Wien.

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Correspondence to Sibylla Richter-Müksch MD.

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Fabjani, S., Richter-Müksch, S., Cakmak, N. et al. Level of knowledge about glaucoma in Vienna. Wien Klin Wochenschr 127, 612–618 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-014-0687-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-014-0687-1

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