Perceptions of diabetic retinopathy-related educational resources in a community in Oman

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) contributes 1% of the total 37 million blind individuals globally. In Oman, 12.3% of the community aged 18 years and older are affected by diabetes mellitus. Health literacy is essential in advancing an individual’s disease-linked knowledge, attitudes and treatment compliance. Effective educational resources would earn positive health outcomes.

Aim: This study evaluates the Omani community’s perception of educational resources related to DR.

Setting: This is a prospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study.

Methods: A self-administered, online questionnaire received responses from 253 participants using a convenient snowball sampling approach. The initial section of the questionnaire gathered information on participant’s demographic information. The second section collected the feedback on the perception of the availed DR material utilising a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive and inferential (chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression analysis) statistics were used to analyse the data.

Results: Of the total 253 study participants, 51 (20.2%) were male and 202 (79.8%) were female. Only 155 (61.3%) participants received DR-related health information. Optometrists (30.3%) served as the primary source of information. There was no relationship between perception and socio-economic or educational levels (p > 0.05). Of the 155 participants receiving DR-related health information, 47.7% (n = 74) of the survey population is highly satisfied with the received DR-related health promotional resource.

Conclusion: Only 61.3% of the members received DR-related health information. Most participants had a positive perception of DR-related health educational resources.

Contribution: This study observed positive participant’s perception towards diabetic retinopathy related health educational resources. The study proposes to conduct further health promotional activities using social media platforms.