Knowledge And Awareness Of Diabetic Retinopathy Among Diabetic Patients, Al-Ahsaa, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Saudi Arabia is a country with high prevalence of diabetes. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is 19.7%. To decrease the incidence of diabetic retinopathy and to improve quality of life, our study aims to assess the knowledge of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients. Objectives: The primary objective is to assess the knowledge of diabetic patients about DR. Methods: Cross-sectional study, conducted in PHC centers. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire to study the relationship between socio-demographic factors and knowledge about DR. Results: Atotal of 383 adult diabetic subjects participated in the. The association between socio-demographic factors and the knowledge of DR showed that, females, elderly, illiterate and those attained high school education or less showed significantly poor level of knowledge (p<0.05). Conclusion: lack of knowledge was associated with low levels of education, female and older ages.