title: Influencing factors on compliance of timely visits among patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy in southern China: a qualitative study.
abstract: To identify the reasons for low adherence among patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in southern China using a qualitative method.
  
  
  
  Exploratory indepth interviews were conducted in 27 diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy who required vitrectomy surgery at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, Sun Yat-sen University, from March to August 2015. Qualitative data analysis and research software (ATLAS.ti7) was used for data processing and analysis.
  
  
  
  Factors influencing the occurrence of timely visits included lack of DR related knowledge, fear and worries about insulin, interactions between patients and society combined with the complexity of emotions and social culture, and the economic burden of treatment.
  
  
  
  Although the reasons for low adherence involved social, emotional, cultural and economic factors, the key issue was the lack of awareness and knowledge of DR. Our findings have several practical implications for health policymakers and programme planners in China.
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Congdon
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qianyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Centre of Medical Anthropology and Behavioural Health, School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiulan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Centre of Medical Anthropology and Behavioural Health, School of Sociology and Anthropology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chengpu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yizhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011050:Policy Making; D015995:Prevalence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin
keywords: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; compliance; in-depth Interviews