Practice of trabeculectomy by ophthalmologists in Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To assess the practice of trabeculectomy among ophthalmologists in Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which structured, self administered questionnaires were distributed to 80 consenting ophthalmologists present during the 2010 annual scientific session of the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria. All consenting ophthalmologists treat glaucoma patients. Information obtained were demographic characteristics, glaucoma outpatient load, number of trabeculectomies performed in the preceding 1 year and during residency training, and factors influencing trabeculectomy practice. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science version 16.0. Relationships between variables were tested using the χ² test for statistical significance.

Results: Sixty five of the 80 consenting ophthalmologists responded to the questionnaires (81.3% response rate); 32 (53.3%) were females and 28 (46.7%) were males (5 nonresponders). Ages ranged from 30 to 60 years with a mean of 44 years ± SD 7.7. Only 36 (57.1%) performed trabeculectomy in the 1 year preceding the study. There was an overall trabeculectomy rate of 0.9/ophthalmologist/month. Of the 15 respondents who performed more than 15 trabeculectomies during residency, 14 (93.3%) also performed the surgery in the year preceding this study (P = 0.001). The main limitation to the practice of the procedure was patients’ unwillingness to accept surgery, as identified by 50 (89.3%) respondents.

Conclusions: A low trabeculectomy rate of 0.9/ophthalmologist/month was found in this study. It was significantly associated with insufficient exposure to the surgery during residency training and patients' poor acceptance of the surgery.

Keywords: Glaucoma, Nigeria, ophthalmologists, trabeculectomy