Objective: This study aimed to determine the awareness level of the Hail population about retinopathy caused by uncontrolled hypertension.
Methods: Between October and December 2023, a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia using an online structured questionnaire. Using social media sites, the final questionnaire was posted online until no more responses could be included. The first component contained information about demographics, including work statistics, age, gender, and education. Subsequent questions concerning public knowledge of hypertensive retinopathy (HR) were asked in the second component.
Results: The study questionnaire was completed by 441 individuals in total. The age range of the study participants was 18 to over 40 years old, with a mean age of 30.1 ± 11.8 years. Of the participants in the study, 246 (55.8%) were men. The majority of participants (76%; 355) showed low awareness of HR, while 106 participants (24%) had an overall good awareness level.
Conclusion: Public awareness about HR in the Hail region was low, with awareness levels mainly among high-income and student participants.
Key words: Assessment, level of awareness, retinopathy, hypertension, Saudi Arabia
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