Improving Black Patient Question-Asking and Provider Education During Glaucoma Visits

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to conduct a randomized, controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a previsit glaucoma video/question prompt list intervention to increase Black patient question-asking and provider education about glaucoma and glaucoma medications during visits.

Design: A randomized, controlled trial of a glaucoma question prompt list/video intervention.

Participants: Black patients with a glaucoma diagnosis who were currently taking 1 or more glaucoma medications and reported being nonadherent.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-nine Black patients with glaucoma were enrolled into a randomized, controlled trial and assigned to either a usual care or an intervention group where they watched a video emphasizing the importance of asking questions and received a glaucoma question prompt list to complete before clinic visits. Visits were audiotaped and patients were interviewed after visits.

Main outcome measures: Outcome measures were if the patient asked 1 or more questions about glaucoma and glaucoma medications and the number of glaucoma and glaucoma medication areas the provider educated the patient about during the visit.

Results: Patients in the intervention group were significantly more likely to ask 1 or more questions about glaucoma than patients in the usual care group (odds ratio, 5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-10.4). Patients in the intervention group were significantly more likely to ask 1 or more questions about glaucoma medications than patients in the usual care group (odds ratio, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.5-5.4). Patients in the intervention group were significantly more likely to receive more areas of education about glaucoma from their providers during visits (β = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.49-1.4). Patients who asked 1 or more questions about glaucoma medications were significantly more likely to receive more areas of education about glaucoma medications from providers (β = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.5).

Conclusions: The intervention increased patient question-asking about glaucoma and glaucoma medications and provider education about glaucoma.

Financial disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.