R Padmaja Kumari1, Rajiv Raman, Tarun Sharma. 1. Ophthalmologist, Sankara Nethralaya Diabetic Retinopathy Project, Vision Research Foundation, 18 College Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to elucidate the most frequently visited health care provider by the population attending a tertiary eye care hospital in South India. METHODS: A trained observer administered the questionnaire to 150 literate subjects aged above 30 years. Data collection included factors such as age, gender, single-index socioeconomic status (monthly income), presence of diabetes, and the name of the health care provider, including the number of times he or she was visited in the last 1 and 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 122 individuals (including persons with or without diabetes) responded to the questionnaire. Pharmacists were the most frequently visited health care providers; a pharmacist was visited nearly every month by a person with diabetes and about once in 2 months by a person without diabetes. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the most frequently visited health care providers by the population with diabetes were pharmacists.
OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to elucidate the most frequently visited health care provider by the population attending a tertiary eye care hospital in South India. METHODS: A trained observer administered the questionnaire to 150 literate subjects aged above 30 years. Data collection included factors such as age, gender, single-index socioeconomic status (monthly income), presence of diabetes, and the name of the health care provider, including the number of times he or she was visited in the last 1 and 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 122 individuals (including persons with or without diabetes) responded to the questionnaire. Pharmacists were the most frequently visited health care providers; a pharmacist was visited nearly every month by a person with diabetes and about once in 2 months by a person without diabetes. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the most frequently visited health care providers by the population with diabetes were pharmacists.