Knowledge of diabetic eye disease and vision care guidelines among Hispanic individuals in Baltimore with and without diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine gaps in knowledge and barriers to care for diabetic eye disease in Hispanic individuals in Baltimore, Maryland.


METHODS
Interviews with a random sample of self-reported Hispanic individuals (n = 349), and a convenience sample of Hispanic individuals with diabetes (n = 204). Four groups were constructed: without diabetes, with and without a family history of diabetes, newly diagnosed with diabetes, and diagnosed with diabetes more than 1 year before the study.


RESULTS
Less than 10% of participants preferred reading in English; 50% reported having providers who do not speak Spanish as a barrier to care. Knowledge of eye disease as a consequence of diabetes was reported by 18% of nondiabetic participants with no family history, 29% of nondiabetic participants with a family history, 36% of newly diagnosed diabetic patients, and 52% of participants diagnosed with diabetes more than 1 year before the study. Only 16%, 28%, 13%, and 34%, respectively, knew that strict control could prevent eye problems, and 33%, 51%, 31%, and 48%, respectively, knew that dilated eye examinations were important. A total of 30% of diabetic participants had had an eye examination in the previous year.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of the ocular complications of diabetes is low. The frequency of eye examinations among Hispanic individuals with diabetes is less than the national average for Hispanic individuals. Culturally appropriate health education and innovations to reduce barriers to eye care are needed.
Muñoz
Beatriz
B
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, 600 N Wolfe St, Room 118, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. bmunoz@jhmi.edu
O'Leary
Michael
M
Fonseca-Becker
Fannie
F
Rosario
Evelyn
E
Burguess
Isabel
I
Aguilar
Marcela
M
Fickes
Cynthia
C
West
Sheila K
SK
D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004522:Educational Status; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000592:standards*