Research Article
Knowledge and Awareness of Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy among Patients Seeking Eye Care Services in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea
Table 4
Association between the diabetic status of patients and their knowledge and awareness of DM and DR.
| | Variables | Are you a diabetic patient? | Total (%) | value | | Yes | No |
| | Can diabetes affect the eye or vision? | Yes | 8 (3.9) | 137 (67.5) | 145 (71.4) | 0.108 | | No | 0 (0.0) | 58 (28.6) | 58 (28.6) | |
| | How often do you check your eyes? | Only when vision is affected | 5 (2.5) | 185 (91.1) | 190 (93.6) | 0.005 | | Yearly | 1 (0.5) | 6 (3.0) | 7 (3.4) | | | Every 2 years | 1 (0.5) | 3 (1.5) | 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 | 8 (3.9) | 153 (75.4) | 161 (79.3) | 0.210 | | No | 0 (0.0) | 42 (20.7) | 42 (20.7) | |
| | How often do you think a diabetic patient should go for eye check-ups? | Every 6 months | 5 (2.5) | 116 (57.1) | 121 (59.6) | 0.690 | | Only when vision is affected | 1 (0.5) | 49 (24.1) | 50 (24.6) | | | Yearly | 2 (1.0) | 26 (12.8) | 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 | 5 (2.5) | 59 (29.1) | 64 (31.5) | 0.068 | | No | 3 (1.5) | 136 (67.0) | 139 (68.5) | |
| | Are you aware that diabetic retinopathy can lead to blindness? | Yes | 7 (3.4) | 103 (50.7) | 110 (54.2) | 0.073 | | No | 1 (0.5) | 92 (45.3) | 93 (45.8) | |
| | Do you think that blood sugar control may reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy? | Yes | 6 (3.0) | 149 (73.4) | 155 (76.4) | >0.999 | | No | 2 (1.0) | 46 (22.7) | 48 (23.6) | |
| | Can diabetic retinopathy treatment restore normal eyesight? | Yes | 6 (3.0) | 119 (58.6) | 125 (61.6) | 0.491 | | No | 2 (1.0) | 76 (37.4) | 78 (38.4) | |
| | Where do you mostly obtain your information about diabetes and diabetic retinopathy? | Hospital or eye clinic | 4 (2.0) | 83 (40.9) | 87 (42.9) | 0.160 | | Friends and relatives | 2 (1.0) | 40 (19.7) | 42 (20.7) | | | No information | 0 (0.0) | 42 (20.7) | 42 (20.7) | | | The Internet | 2 (1.0) | 26 (12.8) | 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 | 3 (1.5) | 113 (55.7) | 116 (57.1) | 0.233 | | Fear of discovering something bad | 0 (0.0) | 33 (16.3) | 33 (16.3) | | | Cost of test | 2 (1.0) | 8 (39.4) | 10 (4.9) | | | Living in remote areas | 3 (1.5) | 29 (14.3) | 32 (15.8) | | | Lack of time | 0 (0.0) | 10 (4.9) | 10 (4.9) | | | Other reasons | 0 (0.0) | 2 (1.0) | 2 (1.0) | |
| | Total | 8 (3.9) | 195 (96.1) | 203 (100.0) | |
|
|
