A BSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-led educational program in achieving intraocular pressure (IOP) target, as well as in improving adherence and proficiency in eye drop administration techniques among glaucoma patients. Methods: This qusai experimental study was conducted at Ibn Al-Haytham Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, including 94 adult patients diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma. The intervention involved an educational program designed according to the Health Belief Model, focusing on enhancing glaucoma awareness, proper eye drop administration techniques, and strategies for improving adherence to therapy. Participants engaged in a 30–40 min individualized session, supplemented by educational materials. Data on IOP, adherence using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-4, and administration techniques were collected pre- and post-intervention. Findings: A marked improvement was detected; adherence rates increased significantly from 2.86% to 11.43%, and the accuracy of drop administration improved from 14.29% to 57.14%. In addition, 51.43% of patients were able to achieve their IOP targets after the educational intervention. Statistical analyses revealed these enhancements were significant ( P < 0.001), with no demographic or clinical factors correlating with the efficacy of the program. Conclusions: This pilot study underscores the critical role of pharmacist-led education for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma in improving treatment outcomes, particularly in achieving IOP targets and therby reducing the risk of vision loss. Future research involving larger cohorts and longer follow-up is necessary to further validate these findings.
Sadiq et al. (Thu,) studied this question.