Psychological causes of non-compliance with electronically monitored occlusion therapy for amblyopia

Abstract

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 (pConclusion: 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.