Knowledge of Glaucoma Among Patients Attending Virtual and Face-to-Face Glaucoma Clinics.

Precis: No significant difference in knowledge of glaucoma was found among patients attending virtual and face-to-face glaucoma clinics. Gaps in knowledge were identified in both groups highlighting the importance of incorporating patient education into glaucoma services.

Purpose: To examine knowledge of glaucoma among patients attending virtual compared with face-to-face glaucoma clinics.

Materials And Methods: A survey was conducted of 105 patients with glaucoma, including 50 attending virtual and 55 attending face-to-face clinics. Participants were asked to complete a glaucoma knowledge assessment using the National Eye Health Education Program Eye-Q test. All participants had a comprehensive eye examination and completed standard automated perimetry. Knowledge of glaucoma was compared between groups and the effect of potential confounders, including age, sex, education level, and standard automated perimetry mean deviation, was explored using regression analyses. The relationship between test scores and self-perception of knowledge of glaucoma was also examined.

Results: There was no significant difference between knowledge scores between patients attending virtual and face-to-face clinics with mean scores of 5.6±1.0 and 6.0±1.6 (P=0.762) respectively. More patients attending the virtual clinic could correctly identify the type of glaucoma they had (74% vs. 52.7%, P=0.005). Regression analyses found education level and patients' correct knowledge of their type of glaucoma were significantly associated with Eye-Q scores. Patients with university qualifications scored significantly higher than those with no or basic school qualifications (P=0.003) and higher-level school qualifications (P=0.038). Most patients desired to know more about their condition.

Conclusions: Patients attending virtual glaucoma clinics demonstrated similar knowledge of glaucoma compared with those attending face-to-face clinics but gaps in knowledge were identified in both groups. Patient education should be incorporated into the design of all glaucoma services.