Patients’ Awareness and Knowledge of Their Ophthalmic Condition at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)

Abstract

Purpose: To assess patient’s awareness of their ophthalmic conditions following their clinic visits with the aim of improving communication between patients and health practitioners and enhancing care. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional quantitative survey carried out in subjects over 18 years of age, attending the Guinness Eye Centre Clinic (Lagos University Teaching Hospital) over a four week period in 2019. Results: A total of 250 subjects were surveyed. Male:Female 1:1.7 Age range 41-80 years. 42.4% had at least tertiary education. Although the majority of subjects (>70%) had enough time to ask questions from their doctors/nurses, 76.8% did not know the diagnosis of their ophthalmic conditions, 43.8% didn’t know their treatment options, and 62% did not know the names of their eye drops. 95.2% of subjects, however agreed that a simple information leaflet explaining their ophthalmic condition and treatment will increase their understanding. Patients with tertiary education or higher are three times more likely to have knowledge of the condition and treatment compared with patients with lesser education. Odds ratio 3.07 CI:1.82 to 5.19 P < 0.0001. Conclusion: Clinics should have counsellors who can spend more time to discuss with patients about their ophthalmic conditions. Information leaflets (in different languages) on different common medical conditions which include; Cataract, Glaucoma, Pterygium, should be printed in the simplest of language for patients to not only hear but also read to assimilate and enhance awareness in patients.