PubMed ID: 39834139
Author(s): Sun K, Marshall R, Frankland M, Taylor A, Montana C, Crowell E, Armbrust KR, Kopplin L, Berkenstock M. Barriers to Adherence with Clinic Visits in Patients with Uveitis. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2025 Sep;33(7):1243-1247. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2025.2456641. Epub 2025 Jan 20. PMID: 39834139.PMID 39834139
Journal: Ocul Immunol Inflamm
2025 Sep;33(7):1243-1247.
Purpose
To assess the patient barriers to adherence with appointment follow-up in patients with ocular inflammatory disorders across the United States.
Methods
This was a multicenter study of adult and pediatric patients at the Wilmer Eye Institute, University of Texas at Austin, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Veterans Administration Hospital, and Washington University of St. Louis. The primary outcome was self-reported adherence to follow-up visits. Secondary outcomes were the reasons for missing follow-up including sub analyses of patient demographics. Eligible patients completed a self-reporting survey to assess barriers to attending follow-up visits.
Results
The survey was fully completed by 210 subjects and partially by 40 (250 in total), of whom were 67% white, 59% female, and 51% had a college or advanced degree. Most patients had bilateral (68%), anterior (51%) uveitis. Patients were treated with topical corticosteroids (33%), immunosuppressive agents (23%), or both (22%). Most patients (79%) did not miss or cancel appointments. Ninety-seven percent of patients had medical insurance and some paid (39%) more than 40 dollars for their copay. Copay costs limited the number of visits patients could attend in 7% of patients. Eight percent of patients missed appointments due to inability to take off time from work and 5% missed visits due to lack of transportation.
Conclusion
Most patients with ocular inflammation reported good adherence to follow-up appointments. Insurance type, copay costs, transportation, patient scheduling, and patient understanding were all minimally reported to effect patient visit attendance.