PP448 : Shared Medical Appointment in Glaucoma Management at a Tertiary Care Eye Hospital – Randomized Trial

Dr.Rengaraj Venkatesh

Knowledge about glaucoma is important to improve compliance, follow up. Shared medical appointments (SMAs), where patients are examined as a group proven successful in obesity, diabetes. Objective was to find how SMA affects level of patients’ knowledge, satisfaction in glaucoma care. 53 groups of 5 patients with primary glaucoma were randomly assigned to SMA or one-on-one (control) group. While 1 patient in the SMA group was examined, other 4 in group get to listen to them. In control group while 1 patient engage with doctor other 4 wait outside consultation room. Patients in both undergo eye exam, get recommendations from doctor, have opportunity to ask questions. They received questionnaire assessing knowledge level about glaucoma, satisfaction level with the experience. 160 patients randomized into the control, 105 to SMA group. Patients in SMA group were 12% more satisfied(p<0.05), knowledge scores were 5% higher than in control group(p=0.31). Results support SMA in glaucoma care