Factors influencing the understanding of diabetic retinopathy complications amongindividuals with type 2diabetes mellitus: A qualitative study
Dublin Core
Title
Factors influencing the understanding of diabetic retinopathy complications amongindividuals with type 2diabetes mellitus: A qualitative study
Subject
diabetes mellitus, type 2; diabetic retinopathy; focus groups;
health education
health education
Description
Background: Theincidence of diabetes mellitus continues to rise steadily over
the years, contributing to a significant increase in the risk of developing eye-
related complications. The escalating burden of vision-related complications
urge the early prevention measuresfor type 2diabetes mellituspopulation.
Purpose: Explore factors influencing the understanding of diabetic
retinopathy among participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended a
diabetic clinic in a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive qualitative design using
purposive sampling. From March to April 2021, three focus group discussions
ranging in length from 30 minutes to an hour were performed utilising a semi-
structured interview guide conducted with nine participants (five women and
four men) aged 35 to 65 visited the diabetic clinic. Participants included in
the study were who had type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosed after six months
or more. Data retrieved was thematically analysed using ATLAS/ti software,
following the qualitative data analysis stages.
Results:. Two themes emerged: challenges in practicing self-care and
facilitating factors for health education. Subthemes within the challenges of
practicing self-care included lack of knowledge about eye anatomy, changes
in vision quality, concerns about medication intake, issues with glucose
monitoring, challenges in nutritional management, and alternative practices.
Subtheme for facilitating factors for health education included team work for
giving health education, elements in diabetic retinopathy health education
and teaching aid.
Conclusions: Despite the availability of health education materials in the
clinical context, participants identified a need for greater depth in diabetic
retinopathy implications. Future studies and efforts include developing
educational programs.
the years, contributing to a significant increase in the risk of developing eye-
related complications. The escalating burden of vision-related complications
urge the early prevention measuresfor type 2diabetes mellituspopulation.
Purpose: Explore factors influencing the understanding of diabetic
retinopathy among participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended a
diabetic clinic in a tertiary teaching hospital in Malaysia.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive qualitative design using
purposive sampling. From March to April 2021, three focus group discussions
ranging in length from 30 minutes to an hour were performed utilising a semi-
structured interview guide conducted with nine participants (five women and
four men) aged 35 to 65 visited the diabetic clinic. Participants included in
the study were who had type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosed after six months
or more. Data retrieved was thematically analysed using ATLAS/ti software,
following the qualitative data analysis stages.
Results:. Two themes emerged: challenges in practicing self-care and
facilitating factors for health education. Subthemes within the challenges of
practicing self-care included lack of knowledge about eye anatomy, changes
in vision quality, concerns about medication intake, issues with glucose
monitoring, challenges in nutritional management, and alternative practices.
Subtheme for facilitating factors for health education included team work for
giving health education, elements in diabetic retinopathy health education
and teaching aid.
Conclusions: Despite the availability of health education materials in the
clinical context, participants identified a need for greater depth in diabetic
retinopathy implications. Future studies and efforts include developing
educational programs.
Creator
Rif’atunnailah Mat Isa1* , Chong Mei-Chan2 , Lee Wan Ling2 , Tajunisah
Iqbal3 , Mohd Iman Saiful Suhardi4 , Thandar Soe@Sumaiyah
Jamaludin5
Iqbal3 , Mohd Iman Saiful Suhardi4 , Thandar Soe@Sumaiyah
Jamaludin5
Source
http://jkp.fkep.unpad.ac.id/index.
php/jkp
php/jkp
Date
August 30, 2025
Contributor
peri irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Rif’atunnailah Mat Isa1* , Chong Mei-Chan2 , Lee Wan Ling2 , Tajunisah
Iqbal3 , Mohd Iman Saiful Suhardi4 , Thandar Soe@Sumaiyah
Jamaludin5, “Factors influencing the understanding of diabetic retinopathy complications amongindividuals with type 2diabetes mellitus: A qualitative study,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 12, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/10802.