Background and aim: Diabetic retinopathy is a serious and common complication of
diabetes that causes irreversible blindness. The aim of the present study was to assess the
knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding diabetic retinopathy among patients attending a
diabetic clinic and identify the effect of an educational program about diabetic retinopathy.
Patients and methods: Two hundred diabetic patients were recruited from the outpatient’s
diabetic clinic, Assiut University hospitals, Egypt. Quasi-experimental (pretest-posttest) research
design was applied using a structured interview questionnaire; including socio-demographic
data, assessment of the patients’ knowledge, attitude, and practices toward diabetic retinopathy.
Results: The mean score of knowledge and attitude showed significant improvement (5.3
and 15.1, respectively in pretest vs 16.7 and 16.8, respectively in posttest) among the diabetic
patients (p<0.001). From multivariate linear regression model; the predictors for knowledge
score were educational level, family history of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy and hypertension. Likewise, attitude score predictors were age, residence, and smoking. Predictors for
practice score were hypertension, blood sugar level, and weight.
Conclusion: There was a statistically significant relationship between educational level and
mean knowledge score. The diabetic education program significantly helped to improve
awareness of patients in relation to diabetic retinopathy.