title: Preferred Method of Education Among Patients in Ophthalmic Care in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Educating patients about their diagnosis and proposed management is integral part of healthcare. Often patient noncompliance is due to a lack of knowledge that could result in irreversible ocular damage. In an era where access to information is virtually unlimited, an understanding of the preferred method of eye care education among patients is required for greater effectiveness in lowering morbidity and mortality of diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients visiting the ophthalmology clinics of a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were interviewed. This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2014 and March 2015. A representative sample of 200 patients was enrolled. Close-ended questionnaire covering current and client preferred health promotion methods were used to collect clients' response. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 200 participants, 110 (55%) were males. The majority (n = 154; 77%) listed an ophthalmologist as their current primary source of information regarding their eye condition. Approximately half of the participants (n = 95; 48%) were keen to be educated regarding the causes of the eye disease. The top four educational methods preferred by patients were one-on-one session with an eye care provider (n = 116; 58%), a group session with an eye care provider (n = 30; 15%), an application on a smartphone (n = 53; 27%), video lectures on eye health and diseases (n = 8; 4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Majority of patients in ophthalmic care prefer a one-on-one session with an eye care provider for their eye care education.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: AlHilali
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulrahman M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: AlMuammar
authors.affiliation: Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Eman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: AlKahtani
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khandekar
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulrahman A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: AlJasser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005128:Eye Diseases; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D057240:Patient Preference; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Education; Ophthalmology; Patients; Preferences