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Category: Volume 09 Issue 01 January 2021
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Title: Practice Pattern of Non Ophthalmic Doctors on Ophthalmic Diseases

Authors: Obiajulu C Echedom, Nkiruka N.M Okoloagu, Ezekiel N EKweremadu, Stella N Onwubiko, Suhanyah Okeke, Rich E Umeh, Ernest N Onwasigwe

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i1.27

Abstract

Introduction: Non-Ophthalmic medical doctors are more often than not the first to be consulted by patients with visual symptoms in health facilities due to scarcity of ophthalmologists. Studies have shown that patients present quite late to the ophthalmologist, when their vision may have been markedly impaired.

This study therefore aimed to assess the level of practice of the non-ophthalmic doctors on the prevalent eyes diseases causing avoidable blindness.

Materials and Method: A total of three-hundred-and-ninety-one, (391), non-ophthalmic medical doctors took part in the study. Owing to the fact that majority of the doctors work in the tertiary institutions while a few were located in the primary and secondary sectors, all the consenting doctors in the primary and secondary institutions were interviewed, whilst those from the tertiary centres were selected by a simple random process. The participants were examined through a pre-tested questionnaire on the definition, symptoms, causes and treatment of cataract, glaucoma, and refractive error. They were also assessed on their practice regarding ocular examination, referral of such cases when necessary as well as determining eye structures they assessed in cases of cataract, glaucoma, and refractive errors.

Results: The participants were 391: 313 males and 78 females. Twenty six of the respondents did not indicate their age. Majority of the participants (176; 45.0%) were aged 35.9±7.7 SD years and married (244; 62.4%). All the participants were Christians except one. The respondents had an overall mean score of 46.9% of their practice pattern. Place of work was the only statistically significant variable amongst others.

Conclusion: The respondents had poor practice pattern of prevalent blinding conditions like cataract, glaucoma and refractive errors. Exposure to ophthalmology during medical school training needs to be strengthened and encouraging practicing non-ophthalmic doctors to seek basic ophthalmic knowledge in the way of continuing medical education can help bridge the practice gap.

Keywords: Practices, Non-Ophthalmic, Doctors, Eye, Diseases.

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Corresponding Author

Nkiruka N.M Okoloagu

Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu, Nigeria