Knowledge on ocular health among university hospital staff

Abstract

Design of the study: Observational/exploratory survey. Objective: To verify knowledge on ocular health among university hospital staff. Methodology: An open questionnaire on ocular diseases (cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and procedures on chemical burn) was applied to health personnel. Results: The sample was composed by 122 individuals: 30 senior nurses (24.6%), 52 nursing assistants (42.6%), 24 administrative workers (19.7%), and 16 employees working in the ophthalmologic clinic (13.1%). They have shown knowledge on what caratact means (83.3% of the nurses and 75.0% of the ophthalmology staff). Among groups who belong to other areas differentfrom ophthalmology, was misunderstood the real concept of cataract . Glaucoma is unknown by 79.1% of the hospital.s administrative employees; 37.6% of the ophthalmology service personnel declare having no knowledge concerning cure for, or control over, this vision affection. The non-acquaintance with the consequences of diabetes for the vision system was observed in all groups. Conclusion: The lack of knowledge on ocular health was observed in all groups. The development of training programs for the hospital staff with the purpose of multiplying eye health education to the hospital patients and in the social and cultural environment is suggested.