目的:遗传性眼病是导致眼部健康负担的十大原因之一。亚洲占全球遗传性眼病负担的近三分之二。印度正在投入大量资源用于基因研究和遗传服务的开发,包括基因检测实验室和遗传咨询。只有公众和临床医生意识到它们的存在,这些努力才有意义。本研究旨在了解四组参与者(本科医学生,护理人员,非眼科医生,和一般公众)。
方法:这是印度的一项横断面调查。从四组参与者中分析了400份问卷。计算不同问题的知识得分。为了找出不同群体的差异,卡方检验用事后Mann-WhitneyU检验和Kruskal-Wallis检验进行。P<0.05为有统计学意义。
结果:大学生对遗传性眼病的认知水平较高,医生,和辅助医务人员与普通公众相比(P<0.001)。三组中的大多数人对基因检测和基因治疗持积极态度。然而,所有组的大多数参与者都不知道我国现有的遗传设施.
结论:这项研究显示了对遗传医学的积极态度。然而,有必要提高公众对遗传性眼病和基因检测和基因治疗设施的认识。
OBJECTIVE: Genetic eye diseases are among the top ten causes of ocular health burden. Asia accounts for nearly two-thirds of the global burden of genetic eye diseases. A great deal of resources is being invested in genetic research and development of genetic services including gene testing laboratories and genetic counseling in India. These efforts will be meaningful only if the public and clinicians are aware of their existence. This study aimed to understand the level of knowledge about genetic eye diseases and genetic services and attitudes toward genetic testing and gene therapy in four groups of participants (undergraduate medical students, paramedical staff, non-ophthalmologist doctors, and the general public).
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey in India. Four hundred questionnaires were analyzed from the four groups of participants. Knowledge score was calculated for the different questions. To bring out the differences across the groups, Chi-square test was done with a post hoc Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test. P < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.
RESULTS: The level of awareness about genetic eye diseases was better among undergraduate students, doctors, and paramedical staff compared to the general public (P < 0.001). The majority across all three groups had a positive attitude toward genetic testing and gene therapy. However, most of the participants across all groups were not aware of the genetic facilities available in our country.
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a positive attitude toward genetic medicine. However, there is a need to improve public awareness about genetic eye diseases and facilities available for genetic testing and gene therapy.