PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Loudon, S E
AU  - Passchier, J
AU  - Chaker, L
AU  - de Vos, S
AU  - Fronius, M
AU  - Harrad, R A
AU  - Looman, C W N
AU  - Simonsz, B
AU  - Simonsz, H J
TI  - Psychological causes of non-compliance with electronically monitored occlusion therapy for amblyopia
AID  - 10.1136/bjo.2008.149815
DP  - 2009 Nov 01
TA  - British Journal of Ophthalmology
PG  - 1499--1503
VI  - 93
IP  - 11
4099  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/93/11/1499.short
4100  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/93/11/1499.full
SO  - Br J Ophthalmol2009 Nov 01; 93
AB  - Aim: To analyse psychological causes for low compliance with occlusion therapy for amblyopia.Method: In a randomised trial, the effect of an educational programme on electronically measured compliance had been assessed. 149 families who participated in this trial completed a questionnaire based on the Protection Motivation Theory after 8 months of treatment. Families with compliance less than 20% of prescribed occlusion hours were interviewed to better understand their cause for non-compliance.Results: Poor compliance was most strongly associated with a high degree of distress (p<0.001), followed by low perception of vulnerability (p = 0.014), increased stigma (p = 0.017) and logistical problems with treatment (p = 0.044). Of 44 families with electronically measured compliance less than 20%, 28 could be interviewed. The interviews confirmed that lack of knowledge, distress and logistical problems resulted in non-compliance.Conclusion: Poor parental knowledge, distress and difficulties implementing treatment seemed to be associated with non-compliance. For the same domains, the scores were more favourable for families who had received the educational programme than for those who had not.