Predictors of willingness to accept glaucoma surgery among glaucoma patients at a quaternary hospital in Ghana

Abstract

Purpose

Glaucoma, an optic neuropathy and major cause of avoidable irreversible blindness worldwide, has public health implications for the quality of life of affected individuals. Surgery is usually indicated when medical treatments fail or as primary treatment in severe disease. Anecdotally, willingness to accept glaucoma surgery among patients at the Lions International Eye Centre (LIEC), Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is low. This study thus sought to determine the predictors of willingness to accept glaucoma surgery among glaucoma patients at the LIEC, KBTH.

Materials and methods

This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study among adult patients with glaucoma at the LIEC, KBTH from July 2022 to February 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on the data. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

We included 240 participants, consisting of 122 (50.8%) females and 118 (49.2%) males.

The majority (180, 75.0%) were aged ≥ 48 years. Ninety-eight (40.8%) had lived with glaucoma for ≥ 5 years. Most participants (149, 62.1%) were willing to accept surgery as a treatment option. Fear of surgery (53, 22.1%) and blindness (50, 20.8%) were reasons provided for non-acceptance of surgery. Educational level, residential area, and family history of glaucoma were associated with knowledge about glaucoma (p < 0.05). Male gender (AOR = 2.0; CI = 1.0−3.3; p = 0.036) and presence of comorbidities (AOR = 0.4; CI = 0.2−0.7; p = 0.002) were predictors of willingness to accept glaucoma surgery.

Conclusions

Most glaucoma patients at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital were willing to accept glaucoma surgery. Male gender and presence of comorbidities predicted willingness to accept glaucoma surgery. Consequently, there is a need for increased education on the necessity of glaucoma surgery.