Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder which occurs due to the deficiency of insulin and results in increased blood glucose levels. Diabetic Retinopathy is a major complication of diabetes which can lead to blindness. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of diabetics regarding Diabetic Retinopathy in Peshawar region. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Medical and Surgical wards of Rehman Medical Institute and Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Period: December 2016 to April 2017. Materials and Methods: 351 patients admitted in medical and surgical wards of Rehman Medical Institute and Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Diabetics were selected by convenience sampling technique and data was collected through interview based questionnaire. Result: The study included 351 patients, 65.2% were males and 34.8 % females. Average age was 52 years with 76 % of the respondents having positive family history and 66 % having diabetes from the last 10 years. 87.2% agreed that diabetes can cause diabetic retinopathy. The mean knowledge score was 13.48. Knowledge was significantly associated with education levels and male gender with P < 0.001 and 0.02 respectively. The correlation analysis between knowledge and attitude showed weak negative but significant relationship with P < 0.002.  80.9% agreed that diabetic retinopathy can be prevented if diabetes is controlled early on, with only 30 % getting their check up on annual basis and 26.5 % on bi annual basis. Conclusion: Mass awareness campaigns using population and high risk strategies as a primary prevention is need of the hour. Illiterates and women are more susceptible to the complication of diabetes in particular diabetic retinopathy. Involvement of general physicians and ophthalmologists for susceptible patient screening is recommended in the light of this study.