Awareness of eye diseases and risk factors: identifying needs for health education and promotion in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the level of general public knowledge in Canada regarding the risk factors, prevention, and treatment of major blinding eye diseases. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional survey using self-administered questionnaires of patients presenting to 33 family practitioners' offices in British Columbia. We asked patients' opinions on the "value" of preventing blindness; the possibility of preventing cataract, glaucoma, and macular degeneration; the possibility of treating these conditions; and their knowledge of risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 882 adults completed the questionnaires. Preventing vision loss was reported as one of 2 top health priorities in 28% of the questionnaires, more commonly by those with higher education and non-European ancestry. Overall, 69.2% reported familiarity with cataract as a cause of vision loss, 41.2% with glaucoma, and 20.2% with macular degeneration. Of these, 97.5% recognized the possibility of treatment for cataract, 91.5% for glaucoma, and 77.0% for macular degeneration, yet few respondents knew risk factors (amenable to intervention) for specific eye diseases. Men and younger respondents were more likely to report not knowing risk factors. Chinese-Canadians were least familiar with the association between smoking and cataract. Family history, probably the most important factor to help diagnose glaucoma, was recognized by only 23% of respondents. INTERPRETATION: Although loss of vision was reported as a major medical concern, there is little understanding of the risk factors for different eye diseases. The association of non-European ancestry and low educational attainment with poor knowledge of eye diseases suggests that innovative education programmes in primary and secondary schools and in non-English languages are needed to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

作 者：

Noertjojo K；Maberley D；Bassett K；Courtright P

刊 名：

Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology 

年，卷(期)：

2006vol.41(no.5) 

分类号：

 

关键词：

Risk Factors  Eye  Glaucoma syndrome  Cataract  Vision  危险因素  眼  白内障  视觉

正文语种：

eng 

基金项目：