Asking glaucoma patients to continually log their health status in a personal record may have a positive impact on their overall knowledge of their disease, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Glaucoma.¹

Since patient-held records are becoming more commonly used in health care—particularly in chronic diseases such as glaucoma—a team of researchers studied the change in knowledge scores within a group following the introduction of a glaucoma logbook. The investigators used a test and retest method where patients undergoing treatment for glaucoma or ocular hypertension were assessed using a validated knowledge questionnaire. The patients were then given a personalized glaucoma logbook, and their knowledge scores were retested after four to eight weeks.

A total of 56 patients were recruited, and 35 patients completed both questionnaires. The researchers’ analysis showed a significant increase in the knowledge score attained following introduction of the logbook.

“Further research will be necessary to show if this result is maintained in a larger sample group and to investigate whether this improvement in knowledge is associated with any improvement in long-term structural and functional outcomes,” the researchers said.