Acceptability of surgery as initial treatment for primary open angle glaucoma

Abstract

One hundred and fifty four new glaucoma patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital were interviewed to determine the acceptance of surgery, reasons for refusal, and factors affecting acceptability of surgery as an initial treatment option. Fifty patients (32.5%) accepted surgery while 89 (57.8%) refused. The main reasons for refusal were knowledge that there may be no visual improvement after surgery [22 patients (24.7%)], fear of surgery [22 patients (24.7%)] and cost of surgery [15 patients (16.9%)]. Very poor vision was significantly associated with refusal of surgery (c2 = 21.72, df = 10, p = 0.016) while hospital or clinic attendance prior to presentation was significantly associated with acceptance of surgery (c2 = 24.52, df = 8, p = 0.0019). This study shows that the level of acceptance of surgery as initial treatment for glaucoma by patients is low. Public enlightenment campaigns on the safety and efficacy of surgery need to be embarked upon.



Key words: Acceptability, surgery, glaucoma


[Jnl Medicine & Biomedical Res. Vol.1(1) 2002: 68-74]