Survey of Medical Officers Attitudes and Knowledge of Eye Conditions in Older Patients

Aim: To assess medical officers’ attitude and knowledge of eye conditions in the elderly.
Study Design: Convenient sampling technique.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria, November 2012.
Methodology: Thirty four medical officers were shown 10 slides of common external eye conditions in the elderly and were asked to give the diagnosis of each slide and complete a self-administered questionnaire during a hospital clinical presentation. The questionnaire and the answers to the 10 slides were collected immediately after the presentation.
Results: All the medical officers agreed that eye examination is an important part of the general medical examination. However, only 16 (47.1%) routinely examined the eye of the elderly patient as part of the general medical examination. Fourteen medical officers (41.2%) were comfortably examining the eye of the elderly. Though 6 (17.6%) medical officers reported being sufficiently trained in the ocular examination but only 1 (2.9%) admitted being proficient in the ocular examination. The entire medical officers agreed that ageing is a risk factor for some ocular conditions, but only 18 (52.9%) ever inquired from the older patients if they had any specific eye conditions. Many of the medical officers wrongly diagnosed the presented slides. There were associations between duration of the medical practice and attitude with the medical officers of less years of practice not bothering about the eye examination in the elderly during the general medical examination (P<.05).
Conclusion: Most studied medical officers were not routinely examining the eyes of the older patients and many were unable to diagnose common eye conditions in the elderly. Medical training should emphasize the ocular examination and diagnosis. The continuing eye medical education for medical officers can bridge the knowledge gaps in eye care and enhance early detection of the eye conditions.