Research Article
Knowledge and Awareness of Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy among Patients Seeking Eye Care Services in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea
Table 2
Association between age and knowledge and awareness of DM and DR.
| | Variables | Age of patients in years (%) | Total (%) | value | | ≤40 | ≥41 |
| | Can diabetes affect the eye or vision? | Yes | 76 (37.4) | 69 (34.0) | 145 (71.4) | 0.121 | | No | 23 (11.3) | 35 (17.2) | 58 (28.6) | |
| | How often do you check your eyes? | Only when vision is affected | 92 (45.3) | 98 (48.3) | 190 (93.6) | 0.692 | | Yearly | 4 (2.0) | 3 (1.5) | 7 (3.4) | | | Every 2 years | 2 (1.0) | 2 (1.0) | 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 | 80 (39.4) | 81 (39.9) | 161 (79.3) | 0.729 | | No | 19 (9.4) | 23 (11.3) | 42 (20.7) | |
| | How often do you think a diabetic patient should go for eye check-ups? | Every 6 months | 55 (27.1) | 66 (32.5) | 121 (59.6) | 0.155 | | Only when vision is affected | 30 (14.8) | 20 (9.9) | 50 (24.6) | | | Yearly | 13 (6.4) | 15 (7.4) | 28 (13.8) | | | Every 2 years | 1 (0.5) | 3 (1.5) | 4 (2.0) | |
| | Can an individual with controlled diabetes avoid regular eye check-ups? | Yes | 35 (17.2) | 29 (14.3) | 64 (31.5) | 0.236 | | No | 63 (31.0) | 74 (36.5) | 139 (68.5) | |
| | Are you aware that diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness? | Yes | 57 (28.1) | 53 (26.1) | 110 (54.2) | 0.398 | | No | 42 (20.7) | 51 (25.1) | 93 (45.8) | |
| | Do you think that blood sugar control may reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy? | Yes | 72 (35.5) | 83 (40.9) | 155 (76.4) | 0.252 | | No | 27 (13.3) | 21 (10.3) | 48 (23.6) | |
| | Can diabetic retinopathy treatment restore normal eyesight? | Yes | 53 (26.1) | 72 (35.5) | 125 (61.6) | 0.030 | | No | 46 (22.7) | 32 (15.8) | 78 (38.4) | |
| | Where do you mostly obtain your information about diabetes and diabetic retinopathy? | Hospital or eye clinic | 44 (21.7) | 43 (21.2) | 87 (42.9) | 0.031 | | Friends and relatives | 15 (7.4) | 27 (13.3) | 42 (20.7) | | | No information | 21 (10.3) | 21 (10.3) | 42 (20.7) | | | The Internet | 19 (9.4) | 9 (4.4) | 28 (13.8) | | | Other sources | 0 (0.0) | 4 (2.0) | 4 (2.0) | |
| | Why do you think people with diabetes do not attend regular eye check-ups? | Lack of information | 50 (24.6) | 66 (32.5) | 116 (57.1) | 0.090 | | Fear of discovering something bad | 17 (8.4) | 16 (7.9) | 33 (16.3) | | | Cost of test | 4 (2.0) | 6 (3.0) | 10 (4.9) | | | Living in remote areas | 20 (9.9) | 12 (5.9) | 32 (15.8) | | | Lack of time | 8 (3.9) | 2 (1.0) | 10 (4.9) | | | Other reasons | 0 (0.5) | 2 (1.0) | 2 (1.0) | |
| | Total | 99 (48.8) | 104 (51.2) | 203 (100.0) | |
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