Knowledge of refractive errors and barriers to spectacle lens utilisation among patients attending selected eye clinics in tertiary hospitals in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Collins Onyeahiri; Agho Felicia Omere; James Iliya Kyamru

doi:10.55006/biolsciences.2024.4204

Authors

Collins Onyeahiri Ophthalmology Department, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6501-583X
Agho Felicia Omere Ophthalmology Department, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria
James Iliya Kyamru College of Nursing Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55006/biolsciences.2024.4204

Keywords:

Knowledge, Refractive errors, Barriers, Utilisation, Spectacle lenses

Abstract

Spectacle lens remains the most cost-effective, non-invasive and widely acceptable means of correcting refractive errors. This study is aimed at assessing the level of knowledge of refractive errors and barriers to spectacle utilisation among patients undergoing refraction in tertiary hospitals in Bauchi State. Descriptive survey research design was employed in the study. The respondents consisted of three hundred and eighty-four (384) male and female patients, aged 18 to 80 years, undergoing refraction at the Eye Units of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi and Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, who were conveniently and purposefully sampled. Their mean age was 46.0 ± 15.4 years and 52.1% were males. Respondents’ demographics, knowledge of refractive errors and barriers to spectacle utilisation were collected using questionnaires developed through the literature review. Pearson chi-square test was used to investigate associations between outcome variables and p< 0.05 was considered statistically significant at 95% confidence level. 60.8% of the respondents had adequate knowledge of refractive errors; 78.2% cited spectacle as a corrective method. There were also associations between age; educational level and knowledge of refractive errors in the areas of presbyopia (p=0.0003), and myopia (p=0.0016). High cost (p=0.0359) and stigmatisation (p=0.0091) were significant barriers to spectacle utilisation. Knowledge of refractive error and its corrective modality was significantly associated with respondents’ age and educational levels. The study recommended effective counselling on the misconception of drugs as corrective measures of refractive errors.

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