1. Factors Influencing Patient Satisfaction in a Glaucoma Population
Remy S. Manzi Muhire, MBBS, MPH; Jonathan S. Myers, MD; Sarah R. Myers; Yang Dai, MS; Kamran Rahmatnejad, MD;
Michael Waisbourd, MD; Lisa A. Hark, PhD, RD
Glaucoma Research Center, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Purpose
Results
Table 1. Demographics and clinical data
A total of 69 patients enrolled.
Demographics and clinical characteristics of the study patients are shown in Table 1.
Mean (±SD) age was 67.9 (±14.0) years, and patients were predominantly female (59.4%, n=41/69).
Mean (±SD) satisfaction score of patients regarding their glaucoma specialist
was 9.7 (±0.8) (Figure 1).
Nearly all patients surveyed (97.1%) would recommend the glaucoma specialist’s office to a family member or a friend (Table 1).
Satisfaction scores did not differ among gender or ethnic groups (P=0.588 and P=0.164, respectively).
No significant correlation found between mean satisfaction score and age (P=0.93), VA in the better eye (P=0.64), VF mean deviation in the better eye (P=0.12), cup-to-disc ratio (P=0.19), distance to patient’s home (P=0.46), office wait time (P=0.33), number of glaucoma medications (P=0.11), and outside weather (P=0.20) (Table 2).
Mean age (±SD)
67.9 (±14)
Gender (n, %)
Female
Male
41 (59.4%)
28 (40.6%)
Race/Ethinicty (n, %)
Caucasian
African American
Other
48 (69.6%)
17 (24.6%)
4 (5.8%)
Type of glaucoma (n, %)
OAG
NTG
PXFG
ACG
47 (68.1%)
9 (13.0%)
3 (4.3%)
1 (1.4%)
Prior surgery (n, %)
22 (31.8%)
Prior laser (n, %)
40 (57.9%)
Mean satisfaction score (±SD)
9.7 (±0.8)
Patient would recommend the glaucoma specialist’s office to
their family/friend (n, %)
Definitely
Somewhat
67 (97.1%)
2 (2.9%)
Mean distance from clinic
(miles) (±SD)
24.42 (±25.21)
Mean office wait (minutes) (±SD)
74.26 (±43.33)
Mean number of eye drops (±SD)
2.30 (±1.53)
Mean outside temperature (°F) (±SD)
87.97 (±3.86)
Table 2. Correlations between mean satisfaction score and clinical variables r
P Value
Age
0.01
0.93
VA in better eye
-0.06
0.64
VF mean deviation in better eye
-0.2
0.12
Cup-to-disc ratio
-0.16
0.19
Distance (miles)
0.09
0.46
Office waiting time (minutes)
-0.12
0.33
Number of eye drops
-0.20
0.11
Outside temperature (°F)
-0.15
0.20
To investigate possible interactions between patient demographics, clinical factors, and other variables and satisfaction survey responses of patients with glaucoma.
Methods
A 37-question satisfaction survey was administered to 69 patients with glaucoma prior to their appointment in a Glaucoma Service at Wills Eye Hospital.
Demographic data, glaucoma diagnosis, disease severity, and prior and current treatments were documented.
Timing of appointment, visual acuity (VA), visual field (VF) data, distance to patient’s home, and outside weather were documented.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (1=lowest, 10=highest) satisfaction score regarding their glaucoma specialist was recorded for each patient.
Statistical Analysis:
ANOVA test was used to compare satisfaction score differences between categorical variables.
Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between patient satisfaction scores and patient specific variables.
VA: Visual Acuity; VF: Visual Field
Conclusions
This pilot study suggests that glaucoma patients were highly satisfied with their eye care.
There were no significant correlations between the investigated outcome measures and satisfaction levels, possibly due to the uniformly high satisfactions rates.
Lowest
Highest
Contact: Remy S. Manzi Muhire, MBBS, MPH
9.7 ▼ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Funded by the Ann and George Spaeth
Research Fund at Wills Eye Hospital.
Figure 1. Mean satisfaction score
SD: Standard Deviation; OAG: Open Angle Glaucoma;
NTG: Normal Tension Glaucoma; PXFG: Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma;
ACG: Angle Closure Glaucoma