Questionnaire survey on periodic ocular examination in Japanese diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the reasons why diabetic patients do not undergo periodic examination.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
A questionnaire survey of 1,333 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients was conducted at Tokyo Women's Medical University. Performance of ocular examinations was investigated over 5 years and the reasons for not undergoing examination were analyzed.


RESULTS
Periodic ocular examination was performed in 69.5% of patients, but not in 30.5%. The questionnaire survey showed that physicians usually explained the risk of ocular complications and recommended periodic examination. More than 98% of the patients were aware of diabetic eye disease. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the main reason for skipping examination as a reason was that patients believed they had no diabetic retinopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients should be informed about the necessity of receiving periodic ocular examination even if they do not yet have retinopathy.
Department of Ophthalmology, Diabetes Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. tfunatsu@nifty.com
Hideharu
H
Funatsu
Sadao
S
Hori
Erika
E
Shimizu
Shinko
S
Nakamura
D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires