A randomized controlled trial of an online educational video intervention to improve glaucoma eye drop technique

•An online educational video significantly improves eye drop technique.•The effect of the video persisted for at least 1 month.•The video can easily be shown in any provider’s office or online. To determine the effectiveness of an online video intervention in improving self-efficacy and eye drop application technique in glaucoma patients. We randomized ninety-two patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, all who self-administer their eye drops, to either watch the 4-minute Meducation® eye drop technique video in the intervention group, or a nutrition video in the control group. We assessed five eye drop technique steps using objective video recordings at baseline, immediately after watching the video, and 1 month later. We used linear regression models to determine whether the intervention group had better self-efficacy and technique than the control group. Adjusted for baseline technique and other covariates, eye drop technique averaged 0.73 steps better in intervention patients than controls immediately after the video (p = 0.003) and 0.63 steps better at 1 month (p = 0.01). Adjusted for baseline self-efficacy, intervention patients had better eye drop technique self-efficacy than controls immediately after the video (p = 0.02) and at 1 month (p = 0.02). A short educational video can significantly improve glaucoma patients’ short-term self-efficacy and eye drop technique. Videos may provide an inexpensive, convenient way to deliver eye drop technique education in any provider’s office or online.