Awareness of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients in community ophthalmology clinics, Brunei Darussalam
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a significant public health issue in Brunei Darussalam and all diabetics are at risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Awareness of DR is one of the key factors in lowering the risk of developing it. This study aims to evaluate awareness, knowledge, and attitude (AKA) re...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology and Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jcor.jcor_186_24 |
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| Summary: | Background:
Diabetes mellitus is a significant public health issue in Brunei Darussalam and all diabetics are at risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Awareness of DR is one of the key factors in lowering the risk of developing it. This study aims to evaluate awareness, knowledge, and attitude (AKA) regarding DR among diabetic patients in the Brunei-Muara district who attended community ophthalmology clinics for diabetic eye screening.
Subjects and Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study conducted between May 2024 to August 2024, using self-administered and self-designed questionnaires. A convenience sampling method was used to recruit participants from four clinics. Data collected were on sociodemographic characteristics and the three AKA domains. The analysis was performed using multiple linear regression models, with P< 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results:
A total of 407 participants completed the questionnaires. The results showed that 83.5% of patients were aware that diabetes could lead to blindness. Nearly all participants (90.7%) recognized the importance of controlling blood sugar level to reduce the risk of DR, and most (86.0%) were aware of the correct screening intervals, although 18.7% believed traditional medicine could treat DR. Participants attitudes were high towards management of DR. The significant predictors for higher AKA scores were higher income, longer duration of diabetes, and non-smoker in the Multiple Linear Regression models (P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Despite the overall high awareness and attitude of DR, there is a need to improve knowledge regarding treatment options and dispel misconceptions about traditional medicine, particularly among those with lower socioeconomic status. |
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| ISSN: | 2320-3897 2320-3900 |