Popular beliefs regarding the treatment of senile cataract

Abstract

ObjectiveTo identify popular beliefs regarding the treatment of senile cataract in patients enrolled in the community health programs on eye rehabilitation. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out using an interview questionnaire that was applied to 776 subjects drawn from a non-probabilistic sample in five cities of the state of São Paulo. The sample was made up of 47.2% males and 52.8% females, aged 50 to 96 years (average age 71.6 years). ResultsOf the total of subjects studied, 41.9% had never attended school, and 78.5% were no longer in the employment market. Most (85.1%) credited the sight restoration to cataract surgery. Among those unconvinced, 47.4% asserted that sight restoration depended only on God's will. A greater proportion of women than men (p 0.0000) believed in the association of cataract and menopause, maternity, and menstrual periods and they admitted using herbal and rose teas for treating cataract. Conclusions Misbeliefs related to the causes and treatment of senile cataract were identified, most probably of sociocultural basis, indicating the need of education on the subject. ResumoObjetivo Identificar concepções populares em relação ao tratamento de catarata senil entre pacientes atendidos em projetos comunitários de reabilitação visual. Métodos Em cinco municípios do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, foi realizado estudo transversal aplicando-se questionário, por entrevista, a uma amostra não-probabilística composta por 776 sujeitos. A amostra foi formada por indivíduos do sexo masculino (47,2%) e do sexo feminino (52,8%), com idade entre 50 e 96 anos, média de 71,6 anos. Resultados Do total dos sujeitos estudados, 41,9% nunca estudaram, e 78,5% não exerciam mais atividades profissionais. A maioria declarou confiar em resultados de cirurgia de catarata (85,1%); entre os que mostraram dúvida, 47,4% disseram achar que a cura da catarata

Causes of low vision and use of optical aids in the elderly

“…4 As visual loss worsens, the functional consequences for the individual worsen also; 5 it is therefore essential to recognize categories of visual impairment, 6 individual needs, and aspects of patients' daily lives in order to best prescribe optical aids. Thus, it is necessary to enhance our knowledge of factors driving people in decisionmaking as to their own rehabilitation 7 and thus in the acceptance of and effective use of prescribed optical aids.…”

Importância do centro cirúrgico ambulatorial para a realização de cirurgias de catarata em larga escala

“…Assim, com relação aos pacientes, faz-se necessário: -conscientizar a população sobre a doença e a possibilidade de cura, estimulando a procura pelo tratamento (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8) ;…”

“…-promoção de cirurgia economicamente acessível (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) ; -oferta de cirurgia de boa qualidade, que proporcione resultados satisfatórios, utilizando novas tecnologias, e estimule a procura pelo tratamento (2,(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) .…”

Genetics and prevention of blindness

“…Community programs include population screening, genetic counseling and information and education for professionals and the public (8)(9) . Studies on this issue revealed that culture aspects, including religion and misbelieves related to the causes and implications of blindness and ocular health, affect the patient's behavior, influencing the treatment of the diseases (10)(11) . Taking into account the nature of the issue and its consequences, genetic counseling includes effective programs of communitybased action for health promotion and prevention of diseases, delivered, since long ago, by intervention of public health (12) .…”