Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Supervisor

Dr. Monali Malvankar

2nd Supervisor

Dr. Daniel J Lizotte

Co-Supervisor

Abstract

The initiative to understand patient-reported outcomes (PROs) has increased to improve glaucoma management. We sought to identify important predictors of four PROs: social support and community integration, presence of depressive symptoms, vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) and preference-based Health-Related quality of life (HRQoL). A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients in London, Ontario (n=250). Regression models, and classification and regression trees were built. Leave-one-out cross-validation assessed the models’ predictive performance. Mobility aid use, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), income and living arrangements were predictors identified for VRQoL, and social support and community integration. Mobility aid use was also predictive of depressive symptoms, and BCVA for preference-based HRQoL. The identified variables suggest that routinely collected variables in ophthalmic practice alone are not sufficient to understand PROs. Our study presents evidence that may allow better glaucoma management through guidance of how to integrate patient-centered approaches to care with traditional clinical approaches.

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