Evaluation of Pharmacy Refill Rates and Continuity of Care for Glaucoma Patients in Oyo State

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in Nigeria, and consistent use of intraocular pressure-lowering medications is critical for disease progression prevention. This study evaluated pharmacy refill rates and continuity of care for glaucoma patients at the ophthalmology department of a public hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A retrospective cohort design was used, analysing pharmacy dispensing records and outpatient attendance data for 180 diagnosed glaucoma patients over a 24-month period (2022 to 2023). Medication possession ratio was calculated from refill records for each patient as a measure of adherence. Results showed a mean medication possession ratio of 0.72, indicating suboptimal adherence across the cohort. Only 43.3 percent of patients had a medication possession ratio of 0.80 or above, classified as adherent. Gaps in refill of 30 days or more occurred in 52.2 percent of patients during the study period. Patients on single-agent topical monotherapy had significantly better refill rates than those on combination therapy. High medication cost, long waiting times at the pharmacy, and poor understanding of the chronic nature of glaucoma were the most commonly reported barriers. The study recommends pharmacist-led glaucoma medication counselling, patient reminder systems, and health insurance coverage extension for ophthalmic medications to improve adherence and prevent preventable visual loss.

Keywords: glaucoma, medication adherence, pharmacy refill, Oyo State, intraocular pressure