Knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns regarding glaucoma among medical students and healthcare professionals in Eastern India

Table 3 Response to attitude-based questions, n (%)

	Nursing students (n = 50)	MBBS students (n = 122)	Resident doctors (n = 40)	Consultants (n = 40)	Nursing staff (n = 161)	Paramedical staff (n = 10)	P value
Q1. Glaucoma and cataracts are the same.
Yes	3 (6)	0	1 (2.5)	0	5 (3.1)	0	< 0.011
No	46 (92)	104 (85.2)	37 (92.5)	40 (100)	155 (96.2)	9 (90)
Do not know	1 (2)	18 (14.8)	2 (5)	0	1 (0.6)	1 (10)
Q2. Glaucoma occurs without symptoms.
Yes	8 (16)	20 (16.4)	25 (62.5)	26 (65)	45 (27.9)	1 (10)	< 0.011
No	38 (76)	48 (39.3)	13 (32.5)	14 (35)	113 (70.1)	7 (70)
Do not know	4 (8)	54 (44.3)	2 (5)	0	3 (1.8)	2 (20)
Q3. Risk factors for glaucoma.
High BP	18 (36)	53 (42.5)	20 (50)	10 (25)	87 (54)	1 (10)	< 0.011
Old age	26 (52)	31 (24.7)	18 (45)	9 (22.5)	82 (50.9)	4 (40)
Family history	13 (26)	25 (21.5)	25 (62.5)	8 (20)	40 (24.8)	4 (40)
Steroid use	7 (14)	6 (4.7)	21 (52.5)	21 (52.5)	23 (14.2)	0
Do not know	0	18 (14.8)	3 (7.5)	4 (10)	4 (2.4)	1 (10)
Q4. Early blindness from glaucoma is preventable.
Yes	38 (76)	65 (53.3)	37 (92.5)	40 (100)	140 (86.9)	9 (90)	< 0.011
No	8 (16)	10 (8.2)	0	0	10 (6.2)	1 (10)
Do not know	4 (8)	47 (36.9)	3 (7.5)	0	11 (6.8)	0
Q5. Peripheral vision loss occurs in glaucoma.
Yes	35 (70)	67 (54.9)	32 (80)	27 (67.5)	136 (84.4)	7 (70)	< 0.011
No	8 (16)	6 (4.9)	3 (7.5)	2 (5)	10 (6.2)	3 (30)
Do not know	7 (14)	49 (40.2)	5 (12.5)	11 (27.5)	15 (9.3)	0
Q6. What happens to eye pressure in glaucoma?
Increases	44 (88)	98 (80.3)	37 (92.5)	40 (100)	158 (98.1)	8 (80)	< 0.011
Decreases	2 (4)	4 (3.3)	1 (2.5)	0	0	0
Do not know	4 (8)	20 (16.3)	2 (5)	0	3 (1.8)	2 (20)
Q7. Which part of the eye is affected?
Cornea	11 (22)	22 (17.1)	6 (15)	6 (15)	33 (20.4)	6 (60)	< 0.011
Lens	12 (24)	29 (22.6)	2 (5)	0	31 (19.2)	5 (50)
Retina	8 (16)	34 (27.8)	11 (27.5)	22 (55)	45 (27.9)	3 (30)
Optic nerve	29 (48)	51 (41.7)	36 (90)	24 (60)	113 (70.1)	8 (80)
Others	0	0	0	0	2 (1.2)	0
None	2 (4)	17 (13.9)	2 (5)	2 (5)	2 (1.2)	0
Q8. If glaucoma is present in your family, can you develop it?
Yes	31 (62)	39 (32)	34 (85)	25 (62.5)	69 (42.8)	6 (60)	< 0.011
No	14 (28)	28 (23)	3 (7.5)	3 (7.5)	75 (46.5)	3 (30)
Do not know	5 (10)	55 (44)	3 (7.5)	12 (30)	17 (10.5)	1 (10)
Q9.Vision loss in glaucoma.
Reversible	11 (22)	18 (14.8)	7 (17.5)	6 (15)	44 (27.3)	3 (30)	< 0.011
Irreversible	33 (66)	58 (47.5)	25 (62.5)	30 (75)	96 (59.6)	6 (60)
Don’t know	6 (12)	46 (37.7)	8 (20)	4 (10)	21 (13)	1 (10)
Q10. Is a person with diabetes or hypertension at risk of glaucoma?
Yes	41 (82)	71 (58.2)	36 (90)	31 (77.5)	154 (95.6)	8 (80)	< 0.011
No	5 (10)	4 (3.3)	0	0	3 (1.8)	1 (10)
Don’t know	4 (8)	47 (38.5)	4 (10)	9 (22.5)	5 (3.1)	1 (10)
Q11. Is glaucoma treatable?
Yes	39 (78)	65 (53.3)	37 (92.5)	38 (95)	149 (92.5)	7 (70)	< 0.011
No	7 (14)	17 (13.9)	1 (2.5)	2 (5)	8 (4.9)	2 (20)
Do not know	4 (8)	37 (30.3)	2 (5)	0	4 (2.4)	1 (10)
Q12. What treatments are available?
Eyedrops	28 (56)	66 (53)	30 (75)	33 (82.5)	107 (66.4)	7 (70)	< 0.011
Tablets	14 (26)	13 (10.5)	23 (57.5)	11 (27.5)	49 (30.3)	3 (30)
Laser	13 (26)	33 (26.9)	25 (62.5)	12 (30)	49 (30.3)	4 (40)
Surgery	36 (72)	64 (51)	32 (80)	14 (35)	140 (86.9)	8 (80)
Device implant	1 (2)	5 (4)	23 (57.5)	0	20 (12.4)	0
Others	2 (4)	0	0	0	1 (0.6)	0
None	2 (4)	20 (16.4)	2 (5)	0	1 (0.6)	1 (10)
Q13. Treatment is lifelong.
Yes	20 (40)	31 (25.4)	19 (47.5)	13 (32.5)	87 (54.0)	7 (70)	< 0.011
No	17 (34)	22 (18)	10 (25)	17 (42.5)	53 (32.9)	2 (20)
Do not know	13 (26)	69 (54.9)	11 (27.5)	10 (25)	21 (13.0)	1 (10)
Q14. It can be treated by eye donation.
Yes	25 (50)	27 (22.1)	6 (15)	11 (27.5)	38 (23.6)	6 (60)	< 0.011
No	15 (30)	34 (27.9)	25 (62.5)	21 (52.5)	86 (53.4)	1 (10)
Do not know	10 (20)	61 (47.5)	9 (22.5)	8 (20)	37 (22.9)	3 (30)
Q15. Purpose of treatment in glaucoma.
Restore vision	32 (64)	39 (31.9)	16 (40)	22 (55)	103 (63.9)	4 (40)	< 0.011
Delay progression	16 (32)	46 (37.7)	28 (70)	19 (47.5)	51 (31.6)	6 (60)
Do not know	2 (4)	37 (30.1)	3 (7.5)	3 (7.5)	7 (4.3)	0

¹χ² test. BP: Blood pressure.