Knowledge levels of diabetic eye disease in people with diabetes: Results of a descriptive survey

An epidemiological questionnaire delivered to patients attending a mobile community based photographic screening unit for detection of diabetic eye disease (n=2386) has yielded demographic, prevalence and knowledge data. The main results of this report focus on the knowledge of eye complications, which show that there is a considerable lack of knowledge in people with diabetes in this area. This paper presents the results of two questions pertaining to knowledge of effects of diabetic eye disease and control of blood glucose levels. Results show that 1021 (42.8%) of responders were aware that diabetes can cause blindness and 1439 (60.3%) were aware that good control of diabetes was very important. Health education strategies need to be developed in order that people with diabetes have the correct information, necessary to make positive cognitive decisions regarding their diabetes management and lifestyle. Trained workers delivered the closed response questions via a structured interview. The coded responses were entered onto an Epi-Info database with measures to limit unreliability and ensure validity. Data were then analysed to present descriptive data and broad recommendations were made on potential effective health education strategies.