Neovascular age-related macular degeneration patient questions for their eye care providers and preferences for education.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine: (a) the types of questions that neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients had for their ophthalmologists, and (b) whether the patients thought that a pre-visit neovascular age-related macular degeneration question prompt list and video would be a useful intervention to improve health care provider-patient communication.

Methods: Adult neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients attending visits for treatment injections were recruited at two ophthalmology practices and interviewed. They were shown a list of questions and asked to check the ones they had for their eye care provider. They were also asked whether a pre-visit question prompt list and video would be useful to improve provider-patient communication.

Results: Fifty neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients participated. Patients had a mean of 11.2 questions (standard deviation = 7.4; range 0-26) for their eye care providers. The most frequently checked questions included "How likely is it that I am going to go blind?" (70%), "What causes macular degeneration?" (64%), "What can I do to prevent vision loss?" (64%), and "What happens if I miss an injection visit?" (56%). Ninety-eight percent of patients felt completing a question prompt list to use during a visit would be helpful and 96% thought having patients watch a video before completing the question prompt list was a good idea.

Conclusions: Neovascular macular degeneration patients have many questions for their eye care providers. Innovative ways to address patient questions should be tested and developed.