Research Article
Knowledge and Awareness of Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy among Patients Seeking Eye Care Services in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea
Table 1
Association between gender and knowledge and awareness of DM and DR.
| | Variables | Gender of patients (%) | Total (%) | value | | Male | Female |
| | Can diabetes affect the eye or vision? | Yes | 69 (34.0) | 76 (37.4) | 145 (71.4) | >0.999 | | No | 27 (13.3) | 31 (15.3) | 58 (28.6) | |
| | How often do you check your eyes? | Only when vision is affected | 86 (42.4) | 104 (51.2) | 190 (93.6) | 0.035 | | Yearly | 6 (3.0) | 1 (0.5) | 7 (3.4) | | | Every 2 years | 3 (1.5) | 1 (0.5) | 4 (2.0) | | | Every 6 months | 1 (0.5) | 1 (0.5) | 2 (1.0) | |
| | Do you think that regular eye check-ups are necessary for diabetic patients? | Yes | 74 (36.5) | 87 (42.9) | 161 (79.3) | 0.491 | | No | 22 (10.8) | 20 (9.9) | 42 (20.7) | |
| | How often do you think a diabetic patient should go for eye check-ups? | Every 6 months | 61 (30.0) | 60 (29.6) | 121 (59.6) | 0.298 | | Only when vision is affected | 22 (10.8) | 28 (13.8) | 50 (24.6) | | | Yearly | 13 (6.4) | 15 (7.4) | 28 (13.8) | | | Every 2 years | 0 (0.0) | 4 (2.0) | 4 (2.0) | |
| | Can an individual with controlled diabetes avoid regular eye check-ups? | Yes | 35 (17.2) | 29 (14.3) | 64 (31.5) | 0.234 | | No | 61 (30.0) | 78 (38.4) | 139 (68.5) | |
| | Are you aware that diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness? | Yes | 43 (21.2) | 67 (33.0) | 110 (54.2) | 0.012 | | No | 53 (26.1) | 40 (19.7) | 93 (45.8) | |
| | Do you think that blood sugar control may reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy? | Yes | 75 (36.9) | 80 (39.4) | 155 (76.4) | 0.622 | | No | 21 (10.3) | 27 (13.3) | 48 (23.6) | |
| | Can diabetic retinopathy treatment restore normal eyesight? | Yes | 63 (31.0) | 62 (30.5) | 125 (61.6) | 0.312 | | No | 33 (16.3) | 45 (22.2) | 78 (38.4) | |
| | Where do you mostly obtain your information about diabetes and diabetic retinopathy? | Hospital or eye clinic | 39 (19.2) | 48 (23.6) | 87 (42.9) | 0.308 | | Friends and relatives | 25 (12.0) | 17 (8.4) | 42 (20.7) | | | No information | 18 (8.9) | 24 (11.8) | 42 (20.7) | | | The Internet | 11 (5.4) | 17 (8.4) | 28 (13.8) | | | Other sources | 3 (1.5) | 1 (0.5) | 4 (2.0) | |
| | Why do you think people with diabetes do not attend regular eye check-ups? | Lack of information | 58 (28.6) | 58 (28.6) | 116 (57.1) | 0.529 | | Fear of discovering something bad | 8 (3.9) | 25 (12.3) | 33 (16.3) | | | Cost of test | 6 (3.0) | 4 (2.0) | 10 (4.9) | | | Living in remote areas | 18 (8.9) | 14 (6.9) | 32 (15.8) | | | Lack of time | 5 (2.5) | 5 (2.5) | 10 (4.9) | | | Other reasons | 1 (0.5) | 1 (0.5) | 2 (1.0) | |
| | Total | 96 (47.3) | 107 (52.7) | 203 (100.0) | |
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