Exploring patients' expectations and preferences of glaucoma surgery outcomes to facilitate healthcare delivery and inform future glaucoma research

King, Anthony J; Kulkarni, Bina Bhaskar; Leighton, Paul

Abstract

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. Introduction: Glaucoma is a lifelong condition often requiring surgical intervention. To allow us to inform patients' expectations of surgery effectively, it is important to understand patients' preferences and concerns regarding outcomes from glaucoma treatments including surgery. Aims: To explore what clinical and social outcomes of glaucoma surgery are important to patients. Methods: Forty-five glaucoma patients undergoing medical glaucoma treatments or surgery were recruited for focus group interviews to determine their opinions regarding the outcomes of glaucoma treatments. Thematic analysis was performed with NVivo software. Results: Themes identified were understanding glaucoma, understanding surgery treatments and understanding treatment outcomes. The most important outcomes of the glaucoma surgery reported by the patients were social factors. Patients felt that being able to maintain their driving licence is a strong indicator of successful glaucoma treatment/surgery. Other important outcomes were independent living, ability to care for their family and having a good-quality social life. When considering novel surgical treatments, most patients felt that certainty of successful outcome and proven longevity of the effect are the primary motivators for choosing these treatments. Conclusions: Patients understood that clinical measures were surrogates for maintaining visual function, but ability to maintain independent living was the most important outcome from their treatment. For newer treatments patients wished to know more about long-term outcomes when considering this option.

Citation

King, A. J., Kulkarni, B. B., & Leighton, P. (2019). Exploring patients' expectations and preferences of glaucoma surgery outcomes to facilitate healthcare delivery and inform future glaucoma research. British Journal of Ophthalmology, bjophthalmol-2018-313401. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-313401

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 22, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 3, 2019
• Publication Date: Apr 3, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jun 5, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 12, 2019
• Journal: British Journal of Ophthalmology
• Print ISSN: 0007-1161
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-2079
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: bjophthalmol-2018-313401
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-313401
• Keywords: Ophthalmology; Sensory Systems; Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1669763
• Publisher URL: https://bjo.bmj.com/content/early/2019/04/02/bjophthalmol-2018-313401
• Additional Information: Copyright © 2019 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. All rights reserved.