Knowledge and practices regarding diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients registered in a chronic disease management system in eastern China

PURPOSE: To investigate the knowledge and practices regarding diabetic retinopathy (DR) among diabetic patients included in a community-based primary health system (CBPHS) in China. METHODS: Diabetic patients aged 18 years and above registered in the CBPHS in Yueqing city, Zhejiang province were recruited. Information obtained by questionnaire included: demographic and socioeconomic status, knowledge about DR, and ocular and medical history. The primary outcome was whether the participant knew that DM can affect the eyes, defined according to the question: “Do you know diabetes mellitus (DM) can affect eyes? (yes or no)”. A knowledge score was calculated based on the responses to seven questions, with 1 point awarded for a correct response and 0 points for an incorrect or uncertain answer. RESULTS: A total of 1972 diabetic patients were included in the study with an average age of 65.2±10.8 years, 45.7% were male. One thousand two hundred and nineteen patients (61.8%) knew that DM can affect the eyes. Significant differences in age, education, income status, insurance covering eye care, fasting blood glucose, duration of DM, history of hypertension existed between subjects who knew and those who did not know that DM can affect the eyes (P<0.05 for all). The proportion of correct answers to the DR knowledge questions ranged from 33.3% to 61.8%, with an average score of 3.65±2.47. In the multiple regression analysis, the knowledge score was significantly associated with age, education, income, history of hypertension, duration of DM, being told that regular examinations should be performed and concern about vision loss (P <0.01 for all). CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge toward DR among DM patients were still low within the chronic disease management system in eastern China. Routine ophthalmic screening, health care promotions, and educational programs should be emphasized and implemented for better DR prevention and management.