Investigator(s)
| Submitter |
Lhacha Wangdi Gyalyum Kezang Choeden Wangchuck National Eye Centre, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan Lhacha Wangdi 
|
| Principal Investigator |
Lhacha Wangdi Gyalyum Kezang Choeden Wangchuck National Eye Centre, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan Lhacha Wangdi
|
| Co-Investigator(s) |
Sonam Choden Department of Ophthalmology, Eastern Regional Referral Hospital, Mongar, Bhutan Sonam Choden
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| Co-Investigator(s) |
Tika Banu Bajgai Gyalyum Kezang Choeden Wangchuck National Eye Centre, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan Tika Banu Bajgai
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| Co-Investigator(s) |
Karma Yeshey Wangmo Samtse General District Hospital, Samtse, Bhutan Karma Yeshey Wangmo
|
Title(s) and abstract
| Scientific title | Awareness of cataract-related blindness and barriers to cataract surgery among elderly patients in Bhutan |
| Public title | Awareness of cataract-related blindness and barriers to cataract surgery among elderly patients in Bhutan |
| Background | In Bhutan, 53.8% of the adult blindness is attributed due to cataract(1). Cataract eye disease continues to be the leading cause of avoidable blindness in Bhutan(1). Timely management of cataract can reverse the vision loss as cataract blindness is a treatable condition. Although vision loss due to cataract can be cured, the main challenges lies on people’s willingness to come forward to avail eye surgery. Bhutan still faces a huge backlog of cataract eye disorders. Poor awareness of cataract eye diseases, its symptoms and knowledge about the availability of treatment option can invariably affect patient’s willingness to come forward. On the other hand, long travelling distance, cost of transportation, lack of escort, believes and myth and lack of trust to the surgical outcome could act as the barriers to the cataract surgery. We do not know how well are our people are informed about cataract eye diseases. Regular cataract surgeries are provided in five hospitals in the country. Assessment in these hospitals will help us to gather information about the level of awareness about cataract blindness and people’s barriers to cataract surgery so that appropriate interventions can be done to increase the cataract surgical coverage in the country. |
| Objectives | General Objective 1. To assess the status of presenting visual acuity among elderly patients in Bhutan Specific objective 2. To assess the level of awareness regarding cataract-related blindness among elderly patients in Bhutan. 3. To assess the barriers to cataract surgical among elderly cataract patients in Bhutan. |
| Study Methods | The study will be designed as a cross sectional study. Simple random sampling method will be used for the sample collection. Recruitment of participants will commence from the reception desk of OPD in each hospital. Each participants will be randomly selected from the token number issued at the reception desk. Since the sample size from each hospital will be 76 on a typical working day, 2 participants will be randomly selected and it will be continued on daily basis for 2 months or until the required sample size is achieved. Participants will follow three stages of awareness questionnaire and cataract screening procedure. The first stage involves eligibility assessment, participant’s enrollment and questionnaire for cataract blindness. In the second stage, each participants will be screened for cataract eye disease including presenting visual acuity, refraction and slit lamp examination. In the third stage, those participants diagnosed to have cataract will be assessed for any barriers to cataract surgery using a semi-structured questionnaire. |
| Expected outcomes and use of results | Cataract being the leading cause of blindness in Bhutan is posing huge socioeconomic burden as well as health challenges. One of the main challenges of cataract eye surgery is poor patient turn over, probably due to poor awareness about cataract related blindness and its treatment. This research will help to address following cataract related health issues in Bhutan: Gather the baseline data on awareness of cataract related blindness among the elder patients so that the future awareness program can be plan appropriately. It will also help to asses the barriers to cataract surgery among the patients so the the future appropriate programs can be planed to increase the cataract surgical coverage in the country. |
| Keywords | Cataract, Blindness, Cataract awareness, visual impairment , barriers to cataract surgery |
Research Details
| Student research | No |
| Start Date | 01-Oct-2024 |
| End Date | 30-Nov-2024 |
| Key Implementing Institution | KGUMSB |
| Multi-country research | No |
| Nationwide research | Yes, with randomly selected geographical areas |
| Bhutan, Bhutan, Bhutan, Bhutan, Bhutan | |
| Research Domain(s) | Non-communicable diseases & Healthy Lifestyles |
| Research field(s) | Health Care Seeking/Utilization |
| Involves human subjects | Yes |
| Population-Based Survey | |
| Data Collection | Primary data |
| Proposal reviewed by other Committee | No |