Knowledge, attitude, and perception of barriers for eye care among diabetic persons registered at Employee Health Department of a Tertiary Eye Hospital of Central Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose:To evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening among diabetic healthcare staff at a tertiary eye hospital in central Saudi Arabia.Methods:This was a descriptive survey using a closed-ended questionnaire. A. 5-grade. Likert scale was used for responses to each question. Data were collected on patient demographics and the status of diabetes. Survey responses related to knowledge, attitude, and barriers were grouped.Results:The study sample was comprised of 45 diabetics employed at the hospital. The mean age was 49 ± 11 years and 33 diabetics were males. One-third of the study population was referred to the eye clinic for DR screening. DR screening was performed in 25% of diabetics over the previous year. Twenty-nine (64%; 95% confidence intervals: 50–78) participants had excellent knowledge of eyecare for diabetic complications. Thirteen percent of participants had a positive attitude toward periodic eye checkups. Travel distance to an eyecare unit, no referral from family physicians for annual eye checkups and the lack of availability of gender-specific eyecare professionals were the main perceived barriers.Conclusion:Annual DR screening needs to be promoted to primary healthcare providers and diabetic patients. Barriers should be addressed to improve the uptake of DR screening.

What works to increase attendance for diabetic retinopathy screening? An evidence synthesis and economic analysis

“…Report Supplementary Material 2 [see Characteristics of the 65 included studies (phase 2 review)] shows the characteristics of the 65 included studies. Forty-one (63%) 147,148,150,151,153,156,[162][163][164][165][166]171,[175][176][177][178][179][180]182,[184][185][186][187]190,192,[194][195][196][197][198][199][201][202][203][204][205][206][207][208][209][210] used quantitative methods only (e.g. questionnaires, surveys), 18 (28%) 149,152,154,155,[157][158][159][160]...…”

“…The quality appraisals of the included studies (n = 53 24,[147][148][149][150][151][152][153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160][161][163][164][165][166][167][168][169][170][172][173][174][175][177][178][179][180]182,184,185,187,[190][191][192]194,195,197,199,[201][202][203][204][205][206][207][208]…”

“…On the basis of expressed importance, domains judged to be important in the included studies were 'environmental context and resources' (19 studies 148,152,154,155,158,160,161,166,170,179,[185][186][187]189,191,194,199,201,207 ), 'knowledge' (19 studies 152,[158][159][160][161]165,[167][168][169][173][174][175]181,190,191,193,195,200,205 ), 'memory, attention and decision processes' (11 studies 156,166,170,[179][180][181][182]187,189,193,…”

“…147 However, in another study the authors reported that half of the participants lived very close to the DRS clinic yet 86% still cited distance as a barrier. 148 In several studies, the participants felt that having access to DRS services close to home was favourable and would improve attendance. 159,161,169 Theme: time (competing demands)…”

“…People with diabetes also expressed fear or anxiety about the screening procedure 157,188,204 and some feared a medical intervention if they were confronted with a diagnosis. 148,191 Interestingly, one study reported that non-adherent people expressed less concern about losing their vision than adherent people. 192 Theme: defensive responses…”