USE OF FOCUS GROUPS TO IDENTIFY HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGIES FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY

Background: People with diabetes do not regularly utilise eye services for the early prevention of vision loss due to diabetic eye disease. A community-based screening program has been initiated in Victoria to address this issue. To encourage people to take preventive eye health care measures, the most effective health promotion strategies were ide ntified. Methods:Thirty-three health professionals were invited to att end focus groups. A sample of 35 people with diabetes was approached b y their GPs or diabetes educators because of their motivation to parti cipate in diabetes activities. Each group consisted of 10 members. Dis cussion points included the type of education messages available to pe ople with diabetes; use of eye services among the participants with di abetes; and strategies required promoting the screening service. Resul ts: Five focus groups were conducted. The discussions highlighted that a great deal could be achieved by using local community networks to p romote the benefits of early detection of diabetic retinopathy and loc al screening program. The group members recommended that particular at tention be directed to general practitioners and their distribution of materials to patients. Key issues for planning and implementing the p rogram were highlighted. The groups urged development of strategies to encourage people with diabetes in rural Victoria to participate in a program for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy.