Assessment of knowledge about glaucoma amongst patients attending an eye clinic in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the level of knowledge about glaucoma among the patients who attend the CBN staff eye clinic in Abuja. An exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted on adult CBN staff members and their eligible dependants. Data on demographics and knowledge of glaucoma were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. One hundred and forty five respondents (100% return) participated in the study. Purposive sampling was done to recruit respondents. Of the total respondents’, 74.5% (n=108) claimed they had heard about glaucoma but only 14.5% (n = 21) had knowledge about glaucoma. Glaucoma knowledge was found to be independent of age, sex, ethnicity, educational level and respondents’ status within the CBN. Knowledge about glaucoma in this population is therefore according to the results, inadequate. Appropriate recommendations were made to improve glaucoma knowledge amongst patients who attend the clinic.