What is Retinopathy?

Diabetes has been associated with various complications, including retinopathy, a condition wherein the blood vessels affecting the eye’s retina are damaged and can cause vision loss if not treated early. Studies showed that people with diabetes are 25 times more likely to go blind than those without the disease. Anyone with diabetes should get regular screenings for diabetic retinopathy.

The Importance of Education in Preventing Diabetes Complications

Improving your knowledge and education about diabetes and its complications is critical to developing preventive strategies. Conducting educational interventions based on appropriate behavioral theories for these patients is even greater. Therefore, the present study has used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

According to this theory, our behavior is determined by our decision to act in that particular way. That decision is based on three factors: attitude toward the behavior, our subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Attitude refers to one’s evaluation of performing a particular behavior formed through past experiences or perceptions; subjective norms are what other people think about the behavior, and perceived behavioral control refers to how easy or hard one thinks it will be to do hygiene-related behaviors. Prevention care includes behaviors for controlling blood sugar, regular visits to an ophthalmologist and timely eye examinations, adherence to a medication regimen, and compliance to a proper diet.

The present study tried to teach eye care behaviors in patients with diabetes based on the TPB. The effectiveness of this training was assessed by measuring the behavior and blood sugar control indicators of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) in the patients.

The Study Method on the Theory of Planned Behavior in Type 2 Diabetics

The present study was conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes. Of the 92 who completed the study, 43 were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 49 to the control group. Data collection used a researcher-made questionnaire based on FBS and HbA1C tests and TPB. Then, an educational program was performed for the intervention group through four educational sessions. The first session is about improving patients’ awareness of diabetes, familiarity with the eye structure, and proper care of the eyes; the second is on improving patients’ attitudes and subjective norms; the third is on perceived behavioral control and improving patients’ intentions to take proper care of their eyes, and the fourth session is on improving retinopathy preventive behaviors. After three months, data collection was repeated for the two groups, and FBS and HbA1C tests were done again.

The Results

Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the intervention and control groups regarding TPB constructs. The performance of the intervention group on retinopathy-preventive behaviors increased after intervention, and their FBS and HbA1c levels decreased significantly three months after.

The Conclusion

Applying the TPB model proved to be a very effective tool in developing a program for patients with diabetes to educate them on how to control their blood sugar and promote behaviors to prevent retinopathy. This theory serves as a helpful theoretical framework for health-related behaviors and can be an appropriate pattern to plan for educational interventions.

Reference

The Effect of Educational Program Based on Theory of Planned Behavior on Promoting Retinopathy Preventive Behaviors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: RCT