Higher risk taking propensity of contact lens wearers is associated with less compliance

To determine whether risk taking personality is associated with compliance in contact lens wear, and how practitioner perception of compliance compares with wearer risk taking and non-compliant behaviour. Method: Optometrists in Australia, recruited through professional organizations, were asked to enroll up to 10 current contact lens wearers each. Wearers completed a questionnaire assessing risk-taking propensity (20-item instrument), non-compliant behaviour and demographics. Non-compliance was scored on four components (maximum score 40, lens disinfection, 20; hand hygiene, 8; case hygiene, 6; case replacement, 6). Independently, practitioners ranked each wearer's non-compliance on a 1-5 scale. Associations between wearer risk taking propensity, non-compliant behaviour and practitioner perceived non-compliance were investigated using Pearson correlation. Significant associations were entered into a linear regression model predicting overall non-compliant behaviour. Results: Seventy-three wearers were recruited by 18 optometrists (mean 4, range 1-10). Wearer risk taking was associated with less compliance (p< 0.01) as was younger age (p< 0.01) and male gender (p= 0.02). Years of lens wear was not associated with non-compliant behaviour (p= 0.8), nor was practitioner perception of compliance (p> 0.6) Linear regression indicated that risk taking was the only independent significant factor predicting non-compliance, explaining 24% of the variation in behaviour. Conclusion: A higher risk taking personality style of contact lens wearers in Australia is associated with less compliant behaviour. Risk taking is a better predictor of compliance than age, gender and practitioner perception and helps explain the individual characteristics of wearers that may influence lens care and maintenance.