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. 2020 Dec 28;34(2):85-93.
doi: 10.4103/1319-4534.305040. eCollection 2020 Apr-Jun.

Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding diabetic retinopathy screening and its management among diabetic patients at a private hospital of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Tariq Al-Asbali  1   2 , Sakhr A Aldawari  1 , Ibrahim A Alzahim  1 , Hiba Alalawi  1 , Rajiv Khandekar  3 , Nancy M Lotfy  4
Affiliations

Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding diabetic retinopathy screening and its management among diabetic patients at a private hospital of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Tariq Al-Asbali et al. Saudi J Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Purpose: We present the KAP levels and the determinants for diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening and management at a private hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A chart review was performed of DM patients to collect the demographics and diabetes related information in June to December 2017. A close ended questionnaire was used that queried knowledge (7), attitude (5) and practice for DR screening (7).

Results: Two hundred participants were interviewed half from endocrinology unit and half from the eye clinic. An excellent knowledge of the ophthalmic effects of diabetes was noted in 91 [45.5% (95% Confidence Interval CI 38.6-52.4) of participants. Thirty-eight [19% (95% CI 13.6-24.4)] participants had a positive attitude. None had an excellent grade of practice and poor practice was noted in 168 [74% (95% CI 78.9-89.1)] participants. Longer duration of DM (P = 0.07) and systemic complications (P = 0.06) were associated with good knowledge. Attitude was not significantly associated with any determinants. Good practice was associated with the presence of systemic complications of DM (P < 0.01) and those recruited to the eye clinic (P = 0.06). Only 35% of patients had undergone an annual DR screening. Only 4 patients had a history of laser treatment.

Conclusion: The KAP of diabetic patients regarding DR screening and management is less than desired. Establishing protocols and public health promotion activities directed at early detection and management are urgently needed in private sectors of Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: DR screening; Diabetes; KAP; diabetic retinopathy; laser treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The Knowledge, Attitude and Practice regarding Diabetic Retinopathy screening and management among diabetic patients of a private hospital of central Saudi Arabia. Y axis shows number of diabetic patients. One hundred and seven (53.5%) diabetics were college graduates. There were 190 (95%) residents of Riyadh. Diabetes was controlled by oral medications in 93 (46.5%), insulin in 50 (25%) and combination of both injection and oral medication in 28 (14%) patients. The remaining 8 cases were on diet control only. Nephropathy and cardiovascular complications of diabetes were present in 25 (12.5%) and 21 (10.5%) patients. DR was noted in 12 (6%) patients. Two (1%) patients underwent laser treatment and 4 (2%) patients underwent retinal surgery
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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