The Effectiveness of Prevent the Medical Complications of Glaucoma Patients in Khon Kaen Hospital, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

This study used a quasi–experimental research design to assess the effectiveness of
a 10-week behavioral education program. This was based on the health belief model
and social support theory and was developed to prevent the medical complications
of untreated or incorrectly treated glaucoma. The participants were 62 glaucoma
patients, who were being successfully treated at Khon Kaen Hospital, Khon Kaen
Province, and at Udon Thani Hospital, Udon Thani Province. The patients at Khon
Kaen Hospital (n=31) were selected as the experimental group, who received the
special behavioral education program. The program involved lectures, group
discussions, demonstrations, training and home visits, and contact with a caregiver
to help with the application of eye drops and bring the patients for regular followup appointments so see an ophthalmologist. The patients at Udon Thani Hospital
(n=31) were the comparison group, and they received only the health education
usually provided at the hospital. Data were collected by questionnaires and by daily
diary records kept by the participants. Demographic data were analyzed using
descriptive statistics. Comparative data were analyzed with paired and independent
t-tests, and 95% CI were computed. The significance level was set at p<0.05.
After the special education program, the experimental group showed statistically
significant improvements in the mean scores for knowledge, perceived
susceptibility to disease, perceived severity of disease, perceived benefits of and
barriers to prevention, preventative behavior, and the use of eye drops. Furthermore,
the mean posttest scores on all these outcome variables were significantly better
than those for the comparison group. Suggestion: In this study found that many
patients live in villages and too far from hospital then they difficult to meet the
ophthalmologist so that ought to train nurses in Sub District Health Promotion
Hospital to care them. In addition, you can bring this program to promote other
chronic diseases patients.