Medical Science
Volume 25, Issue 107, January, 2021
Difference in awareness about glaucoma and cataract among students of health sciences and its determinants in western Saudi Arabia – A survey
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi1, Ashjan Bamahfouz1, Saad Albagami2♦, Salah Bakry2, Amr Almousa2, Sultan AL-Zahrani2, Mohammed Al Harby2, Waleed Alnemari2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah city, Saudi Arabia
2Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah city, Saudi Arabia
♦Corresponding author
Faculty of Medicine,
Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah city,
Saudi Arabia;
Email: drsaad.37@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To assess the magnitude and determinants of awareness about common eye diseases among citizens of Makkah. Methods:
This cross-sectional survey of adult citizen of Makkah city was held from April to May 2020 in the city of Makkah. The participants’
demography, social determinants and eye diseases status in the family were collected. The questionnaire had 24 questions. The sum
of the responses on awareness was graded as positive or negative and correlated to determinants. Results: We surveyed 471 citizens.
Of them, 287 (61%) were female. Their mean age was 28 ±10 years. The median score of awareness was 1.0 (inter quartile range was
0.0; 3.0) (minimum -6.0 and maximum 9.0). The awareness of participants was positive in 298(63.1%; (95% Confidence Interval 58.9;
67.6)) and negative in 173 (36.9% (95% CI 32.4; 41.1)) participants. Conclusions: Awareness among citizens of the city of Makkah was
positive in half of the participants. Further improvement in knowledge of adult citizens of Makkah through health education, by
using modern tools as favored by adult citizen of Makkah is recommended.
Keywords: Eye diseases; awareness; Eye health education.
Medical Science, 2021, 25(107), 247-253
