DefinePK

Abstract

Background: The study investigated the KAP about Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) among health care workers. DR is a common but often overlooked complication of diabetes that can gradually lead to vision loss and in many cases, complete blindness if not caught early. As the number of people living with diabetes continues to rise around the world, the threat of DR is also growing. The good news is that this condition is largely preventable. Objective: The goal is to study (KAP) evaluate health care workers. examine the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of DR, evaluate their attitudes toward early detection and management of DR. identify gaps and barriers in KAP. Methodology: A total of 98 professionals, including consultants, nurses, medical officers, technicians, and technologists, took part in the survey for data entry and analysis SPSS version 26.0 was used. Results: The results showed that while most participants knew DR is a serious issue, there were gaps in how that knowledge translated into action. For example, only 15% said they regularly referred newly diagnosed diabetic patients to an eye doctor, and more than 60% were unsure whether their patients ever followed up on referrals. Even though the majority were confident using ophthalmoscopes, many weren’t doing routine eye exams as often as recommended.  There were also signs of confusion or uncertainty around certain aspects of DR care for instance, nearly half of the participants weren’t sure about the use of fluorescein angiography, a diagnostic tool used in eye care. Conclusion: The findings highlight a clear need to support healthcare professionals with more targeted education, better tools, and stronger systems for referral and follow-up. When providers are fully equipped and confident in their role, they can make a huge difference in catching DR early and helping patients maintain their vision.