Sumithira Narayanasamy, Knowledge and attitude towards refractive error

Knowledge and Attitude Towards Refractive Error Among FSK Undergraduate Students and The Contributing Sociodemographic Factors Sumithira Narayanasamy1,2 ,Tan Yong Xuan1 ,Siti Hanisah Mohd Shariffudin 3 1Faculty of Health Sciences, 2Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), 3Center for Rehabilitation and Special Needs Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 50300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 26 REC UKM (Ref. no: UKM PPI/111/8 JEP-2023-281) Knowledge level in other countries: This discrepancy might be due to variations in study population characteristics, educational status, sampling size, accessibility of eye care services, and utilization. 97.2% of participants had a favorable attitude toward refractive error. This finding is higher than a previous study in Ethiopia (Alemayehu et al. 2018). Since undergraduates are within the literate bracket of the general population, this could be a reason for this positive eye care-seeking attitude. Results & Discussion Introduction • Refractive error is the main cause of low vision in the world. • Global estimates show that more than 2.3 billion people worldwide suffer from vision problems due to refractive errors, of which 670 million people face vision impairment because they do not receive corrective treatment 1 . • Lack of knowledge and attitude towards refractive error correction causes a decreased quality of life and difficulty performing tasks such as studying, working, driving and economic status of an individual 2 . • This study aims to determine the level of knowledge and attitude toward refractive error correction among undergraduate students of the FSK, UKM KL and the contributing sociodemographic factors affecting them. References 1. Maha Hussein Mukhaiseer, V. F. 2021. Attitudes and Beliefs of Students to Spectacles Wear for the Correction of Refractive Errors in Dijlah University College. DJSE 2(2): 14-21 2. Ebrahim Khan, N., Mahomedy, M., Mngadi, L., Moola, Z., Moola, Z., Ndwandwe, G. & Ntombela, A. S. M. 2022. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Refractive Error Amongst Students. African Vision and Eye Health 81(1): 3. Ebeigbe, J. A. 2018. Factors Influencing Eye-Care Seeking Behaviour of Parents for Their Children in Nigeria. Clin Exp Optom 101(4): 560-564. 4. Alruwaili, W. S., Alruwaili, M. S. & Alkuwaykibi, M. K. 2018. Prevalence and Awareness of Refractive Errors among Aljouf University Medical Students. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine 70(1): 29-32. 5. Desalegn, A., Tsegaw, A., Shiferaw, D. & Woretaw, H. 2016. Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Associated Factors Towards Spectacles Use among Adults in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Ophthalmol 16(1): 184. 6. Alemayehu, A. M., Belete, G. T. & Adimassu, N. F. 2018. Knowledge, Attitude and Associated Factors among Primary School Teachers Regarding Refractive Error in School Children in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia. PLoS One 13(2): e0191199. Methodology Conclusion Awareness around eye care and optometrists has been created and the general student population is well informed regarding the optometry profession. There is a small percentage of non-favorable attitude and further awareness needs to be created to educate this 2.6%. Convenient sampling study • FSK undergraduate students • Self-administered validated questionnaire • Questionnaire consists of 6 sections Information sheet Consent form Social demographics Factors influencing knowledge and attitude toward refractive errors (5 items) Knowledge towards refractive error correction (10 items) Attitude towards refractive error correction (8 items) • Cost, gender, race, history of spectacle wear, family history of spectacle wear Data Analysis • Knowledge classification: Good & Poor (Cut-off: 8.5 points out of 17 points) • Attitude classification: Favourable & Non-favourable (Cut-off: 16 points out of 24 points) • Analysis tests: Descriptive and ChiSquare • Symptoms • Risk factor • Type • Treatment • Effect on academic • Place for treatment • Cause blindness • Distance affected Knowledge of refractive error 66% 34% KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS REFRACTIVE ERROR Good Poor 97% 3% ATTITUDE TOWARDS REFRACTIVE ERROR Favourable Non-favourable Factor Good knowledge P-value X 2 Gender 236 .03 4.71 Favourable attitude P-value X 2 346 .32 1.01 India: 56% 3 Ethiopia: 90.6%5 India: 56% 3 Ethiopia: 90.6%5 Saudi Arabia: 48.8%4