Volume 25, Issue 118, December 2021

Awareness and attitude regarding diabetic retinopathy among physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Fahad M. Almotairy¹, Mohammed S. Almutairi^1♦, Abdulrahman S. Bamhair¹, Ghassan A. Bagazi¹, Omar K. Alolayan¹, Tamim A. Alsuqayh¹, Ahmed Z. Alkhars², Reem R. Alhuthail³

¹Medical Intern, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
²Ophthalmology Resident at Al Jaber ENT and Eye hospital, Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
³Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Al Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Mohammed S Almutairi, Medical Intern, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of working age population blindness in western society, and it has a prevalence of 36.8% in Saudi Arabia based on a recent study. The aim of this study is to identify the awareness and attitude among physicians who work in different specialties regarding Diabetic Retinopathy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing an online-based questionnaire targeted 370 non-ophthalmologist physicians of different specialties in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire is composed of three sections, first section covers demographic data of the participants, the second section assesses knowledge about diabetic retinopathy, and the last section is about attitude and practice of the participated physicians regarding diabetic retinopathy. Results: Total of 371 participants was included in this study. 124 (33.4%) had low level of knowledge, 176 (47.4%) had moderate knowledge level, and 71 (19.1%) had a high knowledge level. Age, gender, speciality, and years of experience had a significant relationship with knowledge toward diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion: Knowledge of DR should be improved in physicians regardless of their specialties. A knowledge level regarding DR is varying among specialties. The study determines that level and highlights the specific level for each specialty.

Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; diabetes mellitus; blindness; screening; Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2021, 25(118), 3382-3391

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