Diabetic retinopathy knowledge and management approaches of primary care physicians
Yükleniyor...
Tarih
2020
Yazarlar
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Özet
Aim: We evaluated the level of knowledge on diabetic retinopathy (DR) and management approaches of primary care physicians with
important roles in preventive health services.
Material and Methods: Using a Google form, a 14-item questionnaire was prepared to the family physicians’ knowledge about DR
and the examination tools they use and their management approach. This questionnaire was sent to 92 family physicians in Turkey
via the What’s App Messenger.
Results: According to the questionnaire responses, 90 (97.8%) of the family physician centers had a Snellen chart and 91 (98.9%)
a direct ophthalmoscope. Among the physicians, 79 (85.9%) did not perform visual acuity examinations for diabetic patients,
and 39 (42.4%) did not use an ophthalmoscope. While 34 (37.0%) of the surveyed physicians did not refer diabetic patients to an
ophthalmologist for DR examinations at all, only 22 (23.9%) referred patients to an ophthalmologist at the time of initial diagnosis
and 19 (20.7%) referred patients at 1 year after the initial diagnosis. 10 (10.8%) of the surveyed physicians referred patients to an
ophthalmologist at 2-year intervals, 4 (4.3%) at 6-month intervals, and three (3.3%) at over 2-year intervals. Among the physicians,
64 (69.6%), 57 (62.0%), and 63 (68.5%) were not familiar with the stages of DR, fundus fluorescein angiography, and laser treatment
for DR, and 60 (65.2%) did not know how to perform intraocular injection treatment methods. A total of 87 (94.6%) physicians stated
a need for training programs in DR.
Conclusion: DR, an eye complication of diabetes mellitus, is not well understood by family physicians, and more than half of
physicians referred their patients to an ophthalmologist either late after diagnosis or not at all. It is therefore important for family
physicians to undergo training programs on DR to increase their effectiveness in primary health care services.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Diabetes mellitus, Diabetic retinopathy, Family physician
Kaynak
Annals of Medical Research
WoS Q Değeri
Scopus Q Değeri
Cilt
27
Sayı
2
Künye
Erdem, S. (2020). Diabetic retinopathy knowledge and management approaches of primary care physicians. Annals of Medical Research, 27(2), 674-677.
