Awareness of Common Eye Diseases and Their Risk Factors—A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey among Adults in Poland

Agnieszka Kamińska (), Jarosław Pinkas, Iwona Wrześniewska-Wal, Janusz Ostrowski and Mateusz Jankowski
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Agnieszka Kamińska: Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University, 01-938 Warsaw, Poland
Jarosław Pinkas: School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-826 Warsaw, Poland
Iwona Wrześniewska-Wal: School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-826 Warsaw, Poland
Janusz Ostrowski: School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-826 Warsaw, Poland
Mateusz Jankowski: School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-826 Warsaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: Public knowledge and awareness of eye diseases may influence individuals’ behaviors toward the use of eye care services and prevention methods. The objective of this study was to assess the awareness of common eye diseases and their risk factors among adults in Poland as well as to identify factors associated with knowledge of eye diseases. This nationwide cross-sectional web-based survey was carried out in December 2022 on a representative sample of 1076 adults in Poland. Most of the respondents had heard of cataracts (83.6%), glaucoma (80.7%), conjunctivitis (74.3%), and hordeolum (73.8%). Awareness of dry eye syndrome was declared by 50% of respondents, and 40% were aware of retinal detachment. Among the respondents, 32.3% had heard of AMD, and 16.4% had heard of diabetic retinopathy. A lack of awareness of glaucoma was declared by 38.1% of respondents, and 54.3% declared a lack of awareness of risk factors for AMD. Gender, age, and the presence of chronic diseases were the most important factors ( p < 0.05) associated with awareness of common eye diseases and risk factors for glaucoma and AMD. This study demonstrated a low level of awareness of common eye diseases among adults in Poland. Personalized communication on eye diseases is needed.

Keywords: eye diseases; glaucoma; age-related macular degeneration (AMD); risk factors; prevention; knowledge; awareness; Poland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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