title: Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Barriers for Eye Care among Diabetic Persons Registered at Employee Health Department of a Tertiary Eye Hospital of Central Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening among diabetic healthcare staff at a tertiary eye hospital in central Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive survey using a closed-ended questionnaire. A. 5-grade. Likert scale was used for responses to each question. Data were collected on patient demographics and the status of diabetes. Survey responses related to knowledge, attitude, and barriers were grouped.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample was comprised of 45 diabetics employed at the hospital. The mean age was 49 ± 11 years and 33 diabetics were males. One-third of the study population was referred to the eye clinic for DR screening. DR screening was performed in 25% of diabetics over the previous year. Twenty-nine (64%; 95% confidence intervals: 50-78) participants had excellent knowledge of eyecare for diabetic complications. Thirteen percent of participants had a positive attitude toward periodic eye checkups. Travel distance to an eyecare unit, no referral from family physicians for annual eye checkups and the lack of availability of gender-specific eyecare professionals were the main perceived barriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Annual DR screening needs to be promoted to primary healthcare providers and diabetic patients. Barriers should be addressed to improve the uptake of DR screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abeer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Alawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Employee Health, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Deepti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muneera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Futais
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khandekar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012042:Registries; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: Barriers; Diabetes; Diabetic Retinopathy; Knowledge Attitude and Practice