[Learning and knowledge evaluation of keratoconus in a tertiary hospital population].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the knowledge level and learning capacity regarding keratoconus in a population taken care of at a tertiary reference hospital.

METHODS

A questionnaire was randomly assigned to keratoconus patients during their ocular evaluation for keratoplasty. Subsequently informative data about the disease were given to these patients. The same questionnaire was assigned again after the patients read the informative material. The results were compared statistically by Student's t test.

RESULTS

Thirty-one individuals answered both questionnaires. The average of correct answers before the study of the informative material was 4.45 questions (49.46%) with a standard deviation (SD) of +/-1.02. After the informative data, the level of correct answers increased to 7.19 questions (79.9%) and SD of +/-0.65. The difference was statistically significant with p<0.0001.

CONCLUSION

The knowledge on keratoconus of the studied population is low, specially on aspects that range from prognosis to evolution and treatment. However, this lack of information may be changed adopting appropriate measures.