Determinants of Self-Management Practices in Diabetic Retinopathy patients presenting at Tertiary Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi

Abstract

Background: Diabetic Retinopathy is a frequent microvascular complication of diabetes, and is the leading cause of blindness globally among working aged people and people who are older, rendering a significant impact on world-health systems. Objectives:To determine the level of self-management practices, knowledge, and social support and to determine association of socio-demographics, knowledge and social support with self-management practices of Diabetic Retinopathy patients presenting at Tertiary eye Hospital. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 177 patients who were diagnosed with Diabetic Retinopathy for at least a year were recruited by using consecutive sampling technique. The study was conducted at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital over a period of 6 months from September 2023 to February 2024. Pre-validated translated questionnaires for social support (MSPSS) and diabetes self-management practices (DSMQ) were employed in the study. Questionnaire for knowledge was adapted from a previous study and translated in Urdu for better understanding of participants. The level of self-management practices, knowledge and social support was determined by computing the variables and taking mean as the cut-off point. Chi-square test of association was used to determine association of knowledge and social support with self management practices of Diabetic Retinopathy patients and a p value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Among 177 participants, majority (57.6%) were females, and 38.4% were aged more than 60 years. 97 (58.4%) participants had adequate knowledge about Diabetic iv Retinopathy, 89 (50.3%) had inadequate social support, and 91 (51.4%) participants had inadequate diabetic self-management practices. Gender, educational level and income were significantly associated with competent self-management practices in Diabetic Retinopathy patients. 59% participants with chronic conditions had inadequate self management practices. There was a statistically significant association of knowledge and social support with self-management practices of Diabetic Retinopathy patients at p value of 0.001. Conclusion: This study determined that the patients presenting at Tertiary eye-care hospital had adequate knowledge about Diabetic Retinopathy, however, inadequate social support and self-management practices were present. A significant association of knowledge and social support with self-management practices was present in Diabetic Retinopathy patients. Keywords: Diabetic Retinopathy, knowledge, social support, self-management practices, tertiary eye hospital.