Development of Text Messages for Mobile Health Education to Promote Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness and Eye Care Behavior Among Indigenous Women

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is increasingly prevalent in Indigenous people along with associated ocular complications such as diabetic retinopathy, which is the most common cause of blindness in Canadian adults. Though the risk of diabetic retinopathy is higher particularly among Indigenous women, there is limited utilization of diabetic eye care services. Hence there is the need for studies and interventions that pursue an innovative and culturally appropriate way of providing relevant information to promote diabetes-eye knowledge and prompt eye care behavior among Indigenous women living with and at-risk of diabetes.