The Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of diabetic retinopathy amongst diabetic patients of Azad Jammu & Kashmir

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards diabetic retinopathy (DR) among diabetic patients of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Methodology: Self-administered questionnaires with a total of 14 questions were administered to 130 participants selected using convenient sampling method in an outpatient medical clinic at Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nayhan Hospital, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir from April 2017 to May 2018. Their knowledge, attitude and practices towards diabetic retinopathy was assessed and analyzed by the type of response given as either right or wrong. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: Out of 130 patients, 54.61% were male. Diabetes was associated with advanced age as 41.69% of the participants were 31-50 years old with the mean age of 47 +/- 11.25 years. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and attitude, and knowledge and practice (p<0.05). The mean knowledge score was 4 +/- 1.95 out of 10, attitude score was 0.55 +/- 0.15 out of a score of 2, and mean practice score was 0.52 +/- 0.12 out of a maximum score of 2. Conclusion: The poor knowledge of diabetic patients was correlated with their indifferent attitude and lack of practice regarding DR. Diabetic patients should be educated on the importance of knowledge about diabetic retinopathy to improve their attitude towards DR. Regular check-ups and better practices such as routine follow-ups are recommended for early detection and management of DR.