Knowledge, Practice and Attitude of Diabetic Patients Regarding Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Diabetes retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes which can cause vision loss and blindness. Having adequate knowledge of diabetes retinopathy is important in influencing attitude and practices regarding the disease. The study aimed to: assess patients' knowledge, practices and attitude regarding prevention of diabetic retinopathy. Research design: A descriptive exploratory design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. Setting: This study was conducted at diabetes clinic at Al-Hussein university hospital. Sample: A purposive sample of 136were included in the study. Tools: Four tools were used and filled in by the investigator to collect data. Tool Ⅰ: This tool consisted of two parts: Part I: Demographic characteristics of the diabetic patients. Part II: patient's medical history. Tool II: Patient's knowledge questionnaire regarding prevention of retinopathy. Tool Ⅲ: Patient's practices questionnaire regarding prevention of retinopathy. Tool Ⅳ: Patients' attitude questionnaire regarding prevention of retinopathy. Results: Findings of the present study showed that 3.6% of the studied patients had satisfactory level of knowledge, 30.1% of them had total competent level of their practices. While, 83.1% of them had positive attitude regarding prevention of diabetic retinopathy. the results revealed that there was a high statistically positive correlation between total satisfactory level of knowledge of the studied patients and their total practices scores. As well, there was a statistically positive correlation between total practices scores of the studied patients and their attitude. Conclusion: The minority of the studied patients had satisfactory level of knowledge and competent practices regarding prevention of diabetic retinopathy. while the majority of them had positive attitude regarding prevention of diabetic retinopathy. Recommendation: Health education programs which aims to increase diabetic patients' knowledge and practices regarding the preventive measures of diabetic retinopathy should be provided in all health care services.