Date of Award
2006
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Medical Doctor (MD)
First Advisor
M. Bruce Shields
Abstract
To evaluate variables associated with lack of knowledge regarding glaucoma risk factors. A survey was administered to 397 participants in July 2004 at two Primary Care clinics and an Eye Care center. The survey had social variables and knowledge of risk factors associated with glaucoma. The variables were then correlated with lack of knowledge of glaucoma using the Chi squared test, and logistic regression analysis. Using bi-variate analysis, factors that independently predicted increased likelihood of lacking knowledge about glaucoma risk factors were; being at a primary care location (p=0.0003, OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.471-3.750), not having a family history of glaucoma (p=0.0003, OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.762-6.682), being an ethnic minority (p<0.0001, OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.652 - 4.198), not having been screened for glaucoma (p=0.0005, OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.386-3.228), not wearing prescription eyeglasses/contact lenses (p=0.013, OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.119-2.681), not having elevated eye pressures (p=0.032, OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.05-3.317), not having had an eye appointment in the past year (p=0.015, OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.119-2.85), and not having glaucoma (p= 0.013, OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.2199-8.0289). When controlling for confounding variables in multivariate analysis, lack of knowledge for glaucoma risk factors was associated with; not having a family history of glaucoma (p=0.0003, OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.194-4.254), being an ethnic minority (p=0.012 , OR 2.3, CI 1.194-4.254), and being at a primary care center (p= 0.02, OR 2.2, CI 1.130-4.186). Participants more likely to have no knowledge of glaucoma risk factors were those without a family history of glaucoma (3.4 times more likely), those belonging to an ethnic minority group (2.3 times), and those at a primary care center (1.9 times). In this analysis, we identity various factors which may predispose patients to having no knowledge of risk factors associated with glaucoma. Our results suggest that attention to educating minority patients who visit primary care clinics may improve knowledge of glaucoma amongst those less likely to know much about glaucoma. Knowledge may increase if patients who do not have regular eye care are targeted for education about glaucoma and other potentially serious eye diseases.
Recommended Citation
Gwira, Jane Awuramma, "What Contributes to Lack of Glaucoma Awareness in an Urban Population? Factors Associated with Lack of Knowledge of Glaucoma at Three New Haven Clinic Sites" (2006). Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library. 243.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ymtdl/243
This Article is Open Access