Maxime Dantouma Sovogui^1,2*, Christophe Zoumanigui², Abdoul Karim Balde¹, Sonassa Diane¹, Alpha Kone¹, Mamadou Bobo Doukoure², Ramata Balde¹, Thierno Madjou Bah¹, Alioune Camara¹ and Alexandre Delamou¹

¹Faculty of Health Sciences and Technologies, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry, Guinea
²Bartimée Ophthalmological Clinic, Conakry, Guinea

*Corresponding Author: Maxime Dantouma Sovogui, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technologies, Gamal Abdel Nasser University, Conakry, Guinea.

Received: March 13, 2023; Published: March 17, 2023

Abstract

Purpose: Describe the knowledge and experience of glaucomatous patients on COVID-19 in Conakry, Guinea.

Patients and Methods: This was a three-month cross-sectional study conducted at the Bartimaeus Ophthalmological Clinic in Conakry. Glaucoma patients undergoing medical treatment in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic were included. Recruitment was extensive, with consenting patients recruited consecutively. The Khi-deux of Person was used to compare categorical variables by gender.

Results: Of the 500 patients followed at the Bartimée clinic, 150 were glaucomatous (30%). In our study population, 94.6% heard about COVID-19 and respondents were aware of its contagious nature. However, their perceptions of the means of prevention and the ways of contamination were wrong. The telephone was the most accessible means of communication for patients (48.7%) while 44% went directly to the clinic. The cost of anti-glaucomatous drugs was considered expensive by 58.0% of respondents and affordable by 38.7% of them. The doctor-patient relationship was considered good in 70% of cases. Half of the patients felt that COVID-19 had an impact on treatment, including fear of being infected (68.8%), high cost of living (68.0%) and lockdown (68.8%). The high cost of living and the means of communication with the doctor were the factors that significantly influenced the doctor-patient relationship.

Conclusion: This study shows that glaucomatous patients had misperceptions about the means of prevention and the ways of infection of COVID-19. It is necessary to integrate information and advice sessions on COVID-19 into consultations with glaucomatous patients but also with other pathologies in clinics and ophthalmological services.

Keywords: Knowledge; Lived; Glaucoma; COVID-19; Guinea

References

1. Tchabi S., et al. “Adherence to medical treatment in primary open-angle glaucoma”. Journal Français D'Ophtalmologie 34 (2011): 624-628.
2. “Classification and Terminology”. In: European Glaucoma Society Terminology Guidelines for Glaucoma, 4^th Genova: PubliComm; (2014): 79.
3. Giraud J-M and Fenolland J-R. “What should be done for the follow-up of glaucomatous patients during this period of the Covid-19 virus epidemic? SARS-CoV-2?”. Journal Français D'Ophtalmologie 43 (2020): 543-544.
4. Hu V and Wolvaardt E. “Ophthalmology during the pandemic”. 17 (2020): 4.
5. Nanfack NC., et al. “Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Follow-up of Glaucoma Patients at the Gyneco-Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital of Yaounde”. Health Sciences and Disease 11 (2020): 74-77.
6. Universalis‎ “COVID-19”. Encycl Universalis (2021).
7. COVID-19 and Your Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021).
8. Coronavirus : the main dates of the pandemic. The cross (2020).
9. Coronavirus: Guinea has its first case (2021).
10. Impact of Covid-19 on patients with glaucoma. Acuity (2021).
11. Subathra G., et al. “Impact of COVID-19 on follow-up and medication adherence in patients with glaucoma in a tertiary eye care centre in south India”. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology 69 (2021): 1264-1270.
12. Ayena KD., et al. “Knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to cataracts and glaucoma in the population of Kara”. Medicine from Black Africa May 5805 (2011): 258-262.
13. Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): advice for the general public (2021).
14. Renard JP., et al. “Adherence to treatment in glaucoma”. Journal Français D'Ophtalmologie 33 (2010): 291-295.
15. Taktak J., et al. “Therapeutic compliance in primary open-angle glaucoma”. Medical Tunisia2 (2011): 142-146.
16. Santos MAK., et al. “Observance of medical treatment in primary open-angle glaucoma in Lomé”. Journal Français D'Ophtalmologie 39 (2016): 459-66.
17. Tchabi S., et al. “Adherence to medical treatment in primary open-angle glaucoma”. Journal Français D'Ophtalmologie 34 (2011): 624-628.
18. Pw Atipo-Tsiba. “Profile of the glaucomatous patient at the University Hospital of Brazzaville”. RMJ March 72.1 (2015): 9-10.
19. Remillieux M. “Chronic glaucoma”. Elsevier Connect (2021).
20. Dohvoma VA., et al. “Adherence to medical treatment in primary open-angle glaucoma at the Douala General Hospital”. Review SOAO 2 (2015): 45-49.
21. Bertaud S., et al. “Primary open-angle glaucoma”. Review on Internal Medicine 40 (2019): 445-452.
22. Kane R., et al. “Study of primary open-angle glaucoma at the Institute of African Tropical Ophthalmology, Mali”. Mali Medical1 (2017): 8-12.

Citation

Citation: Maxime Dantouma Sovogui., et al. “Knowledge and Experience of Glaucomatous Patients Facing COVID 19 in 2021 in Conakry”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 7.4 (2023): 137-143.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2022 Maxime Dantouma Sovogui., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.