Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
More than 90% of disability‐adjusted life years developing countries are caused by cataract. The lack of knowledge about the disease and its treatment remains a major obstacle in reducing blindness due to cataracts in developing countries, particularly in rural areas. Nonreliability over quality of available services, problem of transportation and worries over cost of surgery were the four main barriers. To assess the knowledge and attitudes regarding cataract and its surgery. Cross‐sectional study was carried out in the Ophthalmology OPD of NKPSIMS and LMH, Nagpur after obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics committee. This study was conducted on138 patient of cataract 60 years and above over 3 months. Patients were interviewed in Ophthalmology OPD using a structured questionnaire. Questions were asked in their local language and the responses were collected in a google form. The questionnaire contains questions related to knowledge as well as attitude. Firstly, the questions are separated and then are converted into codes. i.e., “0” and “1” where 0 represents the Incorrect answer whereas “1” represents the correct answer. Regarding knowledge, out of 138 participants, 97 (70.3%) were aware of cataract. More than half of the 73 (52.9%) participants reported that increasing age was the likely reason for their cataract, while 11 (8%) participants reported malnutrition as a potent cause, another 20 (14.5%) participants reported outdoor/physical activity as the reason, there also were 34 (24.6%) such participants who did not know the reason for their acquisition of cataract. This study showed that the overall attitude of the participants towards cataract was 44.90%. Majority of the participants had moderate knowledge about cataract but negative attitude towards its treatment. In the public's perception, cataract surgery and its procedures are often misunderstood. So, it is recommended to apply efforts on creating awareness about disease, its cause and treatment. It can be done by doing mass campaigns, mass media, social media awareness, community sensitization and mobilization.
How to cite this article:
Rhutuja Deo and Shubhachandra Nakhate. Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude about Cataract in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.59218/makrjms.2023.9.159.163
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.59218/makrjms.2023.9.159.163