Objective : To identify the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of diabetic patients towards diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in 50 randomly selected primary care centers and two university hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between May and December 2018. Diabetic patients ≥ 18 years old were enrolled in the study. A validated KAP-45 questionnaire was used to assess the KAP levels of diabetics towards diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.
Results: A total of 313 participants were enrolled in the study. The majority were males 168(59.8%). The median age was 49 ±24, and the median duration of diabetes was 8 ±11 years. The average knowledge score for diabetes was good 10. While, the average knowledge score for diabetic retinopathy was suboptimal 4.5. The average attitude scores for both diabetes and diabetic retinopathy were suboptimal 0 and 2 respectively. The average practice score for diabetes was good 5 while it was low 3 for diabetic retinopathy. The most common barrier to comply with regular follow up was inadequate knowledge about the importance of periodic eye exam 47.1%(107).
Conclusions: It is important to improve education and awareness of DM and diabetic retinopathy among diabetics, as it’s essential for controlling the disease and reducing its complications, by improving patient compliance to treatment and follow up.