Awareness of Common Ocular Conditions Among Trinidad Population: A Cross‐Sectional Pilot Study
ABSTRACT Background and Aims Cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), uncorrected refractive error (URE), and corneal anomalies are some of the leading causes of blindness and visual impairment (VI). Awareness of these ocular conditions and their consequences is crucial for early detection an...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70603 |
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| Summary: | ABSTRACT Background and Aims Cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), uncorrected refractive error (URE), and corneal anomalies are some of the leading causes of blindness and visual impairment (VI). Awareness of these ocular conditions and their consequences is crucial for early detection and management to prevent blindness. The study is aimed to assess the awareness of common ocular conditions among adults in Trinidad. Methods A cross‐sectional study of Trinidad and Tobago (T & T) adults was conducted to determine their awareness of common ocular conditions. Data were collected face‐to‐face using a self‐administered questionnaire and systematic random sampling. Awareness was defined as whether the respondent had ever heard of the ocular conditions. Knowledge, on the other hand, was assessed based on the respondent's understanding of various aspects of each condition, including its symptoms, risk factors, and management strategies. Result A total of 230 individuals aged 18 to 83 years participated in this study, with 146 (63.5%) being female. Majority of participants (69.1%) were under 30 years of age, and 63% had attained tertiary education. Cataracts had the highest awareness rate (n = 226, 98.3%), followed by glaucoma (n = 184, 80%). A significant association was found between age and awareness of diabetic retinopathy (DR) (p = 0.01), while sex was significantly associated with awareness of all ocular conditions, except for DR, glaucoma, and refractive errors (RE) (all p > 0.05). Level of education was significantly associated with awareness of DR (p = 0.02), and occupation was significantly associated with awareness of all ocular conditions, except cataracts and glaucoma (p > 0.05). The primary sources of information about ocular conditions were family, friends, and relatives (n = 199, 87%). Conclusion The level of awareness of the common ocular conditions among the T & T populations was comparable with the global findings. There is a need to increase awareness of DR and RE among the population to reduce the burden caused by these conditions. |
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| ISSN: | 2398-8835 |