Awareness and knowledge about glaucoma among patients visiting the screening clinic in Jeddah Eye Hospital, Saudi Arabia.

AIM

To explore levels and determinants of awareness and knowledge about glaucoma among patients.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study that included adult patients from October to the end of December 2018. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed by the researchers to measure the levels of awareness and knowledge about 18 basic information about glaucoma. The sheet was divided into 4 domains: types of glaucoma, risk factors, clinical features, and management. A knowledge score (KS, range=0-18) was calculated, with higher scores indicating higher levels.

RESULTS

A total of 383 patients responded to the questionnaire, 61.9% males, mean±SD age was 38.5±12.94 years old, and 61.6% had a university degree or higher. Of them, 6.3% and 23.2% reported personal and family history of glaucoma, respectively. The most frequently reported source of information about glaucoma was another person with glaucoma (28.2%), followed by physicians (24.8%) and TV (19.6%). Knowledge by item ranged from 3.1% to 82.5% correctness rate, while KS showed mean=5.91 and median=5; and reliability testing of the knowledge scale showed Cronbach's alpha=0.782. Higher KS were found among respondents with higher educational level (=0.036), diabetes history (=0.025), and personal (<0.001) and family (<0.001) history of glaucoma.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals low awareness and knowledge levels about glaucoma among the attendees of a local eye care hospital, where several misconceptions about disease risk factors, clinical features, and management are identified.