DIABETIC RETINOPATHY: HOW AWARE ARE THE PHYSICIANS?

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to assess the awareness of physicians in rural Kolar district towards diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted in rural Kolar district during May 2013. The study participants were 38 physicians and 2 general practitioners who had special training in diabetes. The data were collected by means of filling up of pre-tested specially designed questionnaires focused on awareness towards Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic retinopathy. The assessment was done by total score as satisfactory (Diabetic retinopathy awareness index >12), moderately satisfactory (DRAI 9-11) or unsatisfactory if index 12) was attained by only 55% (22/40) practitioners. Nearly 62.5% of physicians refer the diabetics to ophthalmologists only when they develop significant vision problems. CONCLUSION: This survey highlighted some of the lacunae in the knowledge about referral system of the general physicians and identified the need for improvement in awareness regarding the management of the patients with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. To improve patient compliance, physician needs to educate their diabetic patients about the importance of setting an annual eye examination routinely before the development of vision loss.