KAP STUDY ON FACTORS MOTIVATING DIABETIC PEOPLE FOR SCREENING OF RETINOPATHY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of Knowledge, Attitude and practice among diabetics regarding motivational factors for the screening of Diabetic Retinopathy.

METHOD: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving the use of a self-made questionnaire to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of diabetic patients, for motivating them for the screening of retinopathy. A sample size of a total of 70 diabetic patients was taken and asked to fill the questionnaire regarding their knowledge, attitude and practice about Diabetic Retinopathy. This study was conducted in September, October and November 2018. Ethical approval was sought from the ethical review board of the College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences.

RESULTS: This study included a total of 70 subjects. 49.9% had a knowledge of DM and 37.1% were having knowledge of DR. DM knowledge was more in women (OR=1.93; 95% CI: 1.55-2.39), and about practice patterns, only 36.5% of individuals with DR knowledge believed that if they controlled their blood glucose level, they could avoid a visit to an ophthalmologist, compared with 55.5% with no knowledge about DR (p-value <0.001). 20(28.6%) went for a dilated eye checkup once in 3 months, 3(4.3%) went for a dilated eye checkup once in 6 months, 16(22.9%) went for a dilated eye checkup once a year, 21(30%) went for a dilated eye checkup as advised by ophthalmologist, 10(14.3%) (p-value =0.002) went for any other reason. When DM patients were asked about their sugar level, 52(74.3%) had a controlled sugar level while 18(25.7%) did not have a controlled sugar level.

CONCLUSION: This study concludes that awareness and knowledge about diabetic retinopathy were very poor among the patients in our study. Lack of knowledge concerning the need for screening for diabetic retinopathy was found to be a major barrier to compliance with regular screening. Good knowledge about diabetes was significantly associated with a positive attitude towards diabetes and good practice patterns regarding retinopathy. Awareness of diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with good practice patterns regarding retinopathy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to evolve strategies to educate diabetic patients about this potentially blinding complication of diabetes.