TITLE:
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Patients with Diabetes Regarding Eye Care: A Cross Sectional Study
AUTHORS:
Eberechukwu Ogbeanu Achigbu, Reginald Nnamdi Oputa, Kingsley Ihedioha Achigbu, Ikenna Ugochukwu Ahuche
KEYWORDS:
Diabetes, Knowledge, Impact, Eye, Management
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.6 No.2,
May
12,
2016
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The non-communicable eye diseases such as diabetic
retinopathy have become significant threats to vision and require lifelong
management. The development of ocular complications of diabetes has been associated
with longstanding and/or poorly controlled disease. Early detection and
prevention are keys to reduce this scourge, but this largely depends on the
existing knowledge. Objective: This study is aimed at determining the
knowledge, attitude and practice regarding eye care among patients living with
diabetes with a view to making recommendations for a multidisciplinary
patient-centered approach to ophthalmic care. Methods: One hundred and three
respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in a cross
sectional study carried out in the Endocrinology Clinic of Federal Medical
Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Results:
There was a female preponderance with a male to female ratio of 1:1.3. Of these
respondents, 68.9% had been diabetic for 5 years or less; 56.4% could
define diabetes; but only 40.77% could mention some ocular complications of
diabetes. Only 31.1% had had their eyes examined; the rest had not been to an
eye clinic due to lack of funds, time, no ocular problems and not having been referred to an eye doctor. This attitude and
practice were not significantly associated with age, sex, occupation or
duration of illness. Conclusion: Though more than half of the respondents could
define diabetes, there is still a poor knowledge of the ocular complications of
diabetes and a poor attitude and practice regarding eye care among these
patients. An interdisciplinary patient-centred approach to the management of
diabetic eye diseases is recommended so as to reduce the burden of visual
impairment from diabetes.