Rev Bras Oftalmol.2019;78(2):107-111
Knowledge of diabetic patients users of the Health Unic System about diabetic retinopathy
DOI: 10.5935/0034-7280.20180106
Objective: To evaluate the level of knowledge of diabetic patients treated at the Unified Health System (SUS – Sistema Único de Saúde) in the city of Boa Vista / Roraima, about Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative study conducted through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire for 150 diabetic individuals, SUS users, from the city of Boa Vista – RR, during the year 2017. Statistical analyzes were performed using the Microsoft Excel and EpiInfo 7® programs, setting the 5% level for the rejection of the null hypothesis. Results: Of the total sample, 76.7% of the individuals did not have any knowledge about DR, 19.3% had some type of knowledge, but did not have the pathology, 2.7% knew, had DR and was receiving treatment, 1,3% knew, had DR and was not receiving treatment. About orientation, 40.6% of the participants never received any information about the risk of vision loss. About the type of Diabetes, 44.7% of the participants did not know what type they had, 42% reported having DM 2 and 13.3% DM1. On glucose control, 59.4% could not maintain it. It was evidenced an association between glucose control and DR knowledge, between the time of DM installation and knowledge about DR, and between having consulted an ophthalmologist and knowing about DR. Conclusion: The level of knowledge about DR is very low, a worrying factor because it is one of the most important complications of diabetes. It is observed that the health system is not being efficient as facilitator of this knowledge.