Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness of Glaucoma among the General Population in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Awlad Mohammad, Basel Bader, Mohammad Fuad Sayes, and 8 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8682885/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally, often progressing asymptomatically until advanced stages. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma are critical determinants of early diagnosis and treatment-seeking behavior. Data on glaucoma awareness in Palestine are scarce. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding glaucoma among the general Palestinian population and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with inadequate knowledge. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1 to December 30, 2025, using an online questionnaire distributed to adults (≥ 18 years) residing in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The questionnaire included sociodemographic information, glaucoma awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha (α = 0.87). Knowledge scores were calculated with a maximum of 8 points; good knowledge was defined as ≥ 6 correct answers. Data were analyzed using SPSS v23, employing chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results A total of 741 participants completed the survey (50.2% male, 49.8% female). Overall, 54% had heard of glaucoma, but only 13.8% demonstrated good knowledge. Prior awareness of glaucoma was the strongest predictor of good knowledge (aOR = 7.89, p < 0.001). Knowledge gaps were notable regarding the asymptomatic nature of early disease (20.9%), irreversible vision loss (57%), and key risk factors including age ≥ 40 years (49%), family history (44.9%), and diabetes (55.1%). Older adults, rural residents, and individuals with lower educational levels had significantly lower knowledge scores. Only 26.9% of participants reported eye examinations within the preceding year, and screening intentions were associated with better knowledge (p = 0.015). Conclusions Although awareness of glaucoma is moderate in Palestine, comprehensive knowledge remains low, particularly among high-risk populations. Public health interventions should target education beyond name recognition, emphasizing asymptomatic progression, irreversible vision loss, and risk factors. Integrating glaucoma education into clinical visits and community-based programs may improve early detection and prevent blindness. Glaucoma awareness knowledge attitudes Palestine public health eye health Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Introduction The key to preventing many diseases is early detection and diagnosis. One of the most significant of these conditions is glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and a leading cause of irreversible blindness, with 3.61 million blind individuals and more than 4 million visually impaired people globally. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, glaucoma continues to impose a substantial public health burden, largely due to its insidious onset and asymptomatic progression in early stages. Glaucoma is a chronic optic neuropathy characterized by progressive optic nerve damage and corresponding visual field loss, commonly associated with elevated intraocular pressure [ 1 , 2 ]. Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible, and delayed diagnosis often results in permanent blindness. Alarmingly, recent clinical evidence indicates that up to 36% of patients present with blindness in at least one eye at their first ophthalmic consultation, reflecting advanced disease at the time of diagnosis [ 3 ]. This late presentation is frequently attributed to poor awareness, limited knowledge, and inadequate recognition of early symptoms, which delay treatment-seeking behaviour [ 4 ]. People's treatment-seeking behaviour is significantly influenced by their awareness and knowledge of glaucoma. The lack of awareness is pervasive throughout the world and is not confined to any one location; prior research conducted in Africa revealed that Caucasians, Nigerians, and Ghanaians had low levels of awareness and understanding of glaucoma [ 5 , 6 ]. Additionally, there aren't many studies assessing awareness of eye diseases in general, and glaucoma in particular, in the Middle East, where Saudis and Jordanians have high awareness of glaucoma but low to average knowledge of it [ 7 , 8 ]. For this reason, it was necessary to conduct awareness assessment studies in additional countries in the region, such as Palestine, Lebanon, and others. Despite the recognized importance of public awareness, data on glaucoma knowledge, awareness, and attitudes in Palestine remain scarce. Given the unique healthcare challenges and limited screening opportunities in the region, understanding population-level perceptions of glaucoma is essential for designing targeted educational and preventive interventions. Therefore, this study aims to assess the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding glaucoma among the general population in Palestine, and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with inadequate knowledge. The findings are intended to inform public health strategies aimed at promoting early detection, improving treatment-seeking behavior, and ultimately reducing glaucoma-related visual impairment and blindness. Method This public-based cross-sectional study utilized a questionnaire specifically designed for data collection, comprising demographic inquiries and items pertaining to glaucoma awareness among the general population in Palestine. The questionnaire underwent forward and backward translation. The data gathering method employed an online questionnaire, derived from a prior study[ 9 ]. The co-authors initially prepared it in English. It was rendered into Arabic (suitable to the local accent). A pilot study was conducted on 50 participants, and the questionnaire was reviewed according to the primary statistical study. Also, the survey was tested for reliability using the Cronbach’s Alpha test. Internal stability of (0.87). The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 software was utilized for data analysis. Data was acquired by trained data collectors following a briefing of the questionnaire to the respondents. Almost all questions are closed. The questionnaire consists of four parts: sociodemographic or background information, awareness and information sources, knowledge, assessment questions to measure clinical characteristics and awareness of glaucoma, and attitudes & practices. We have allocated one point (1) to each question from the third questionnaire group for each true answer and zero points (0) to the wrong answers. Data collection took place in the West Bank and Jerusalem in Palestine. The study was a cross-sectional one conducted from December 1, 2025, to December 30, 2025, to determine the awareness of 741 females and males aged from 18 years up to more than 50 years about glaucoma, where participation in the survey was voluntary. The researcher's bias was assessed by analyzing response patterns based on age or educational attainment. With 372 (50.2%) males and 369 (49.8%) females. The inclusion criteria were any adult above 18 years old and both male and female residents of the West Bank or Jerusalem. The exclusion criterion was people under 18 years of age. The study was approved by the research ethics committee of the College of Medicine, Al Quds University. Informed consent was obtained from all respondents. Statistical analysis The data was automatically exported from Google Forms to Excel, and analysis were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), version 23. Means and standard deviations (SD) are employed to represent continuous variables, whilst frequencies and percentages are utilized to convey the data. The chi-square test was employed to evaluate the differences among groups, to maintain model stability with low outcome prevalence. Multivariable logistic regression was used. The sample size (n) was determined by Cochran’s Sample Size Formula with the assumption of a 95% confidence level and a margin of error which is 5%, and p is the (estimated) proportion of the population which has the attribute in question, which it equals 50% (or 0.5). The required sample size (n) for this study, applying the previous formula, is 385. Results A total of 741 respondents were included. Participant characteristics and key eye-health practices are summarized in Table 1 . The sample was nearly balanced by gender (male: 372 [50.2%], female: 369 [49.8%]) and was predominantly young, with 18–24 years representing 49.9% ofparticipants. Most respondents reported a bachelor’s degree (62.1%), and 61.3% lived in urbanareas. A history of chronic disease was reported by 12.1%. Regarding eye-health behaviours, 64.9% reported ever having a comprehensive eye examination by an eye-care professional, andthe timing of the last eye check-up varied (including 23.5% who reported never having had acomprehensive eye check-up). Most participants indicated willingness to follow a provider’s recommendation for an eye examination, and the majority considered glaucoma screening foradults over 40 years to be “very important” (Table 1 ). Overall, 54.0% of participants reportedhaving heard of glaucoma, while 46.0% had not. Among those who had heard of glaucoma, information sources commonly included online platforms and interpersonal sources, withhealthcare professionals and academic settings also frequently reported. Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics and eye-health practices of study participants (N = 741). Variable Category n % Gender Male 372 50.2 Female 369 49.8 Age 18–24 370 49.9 25–34 176 23.8 35–44 101 13.6 45–54 59 8 55 years or older 35 4.7 Education Bachelor's Degree 460 62.1 Completed high school (Tawjihi) 107 14.4 Diploma 62 8.4 Did not complete high school 58 7.8 Postgraduate Degree (Master's, PhD, etc.) 54 7.3 Occupation Employed (Full or Part-time) 298 40.2 Student 274 37 Unemployed 148 20 Retired 21 2.8 Residence Urban (City/Major Town) 454 61.3 Rural (Village/Camp) 287 38.7 Chronic disease No 651 87.9 Yes 90 12.1 Eye exam Yes 481 64.9 No 260 35.1 Heard glaucoma Yes 400 54 No 341 46 Screen importance Yes, it is very important 569 76.8 I am unsure 137 18.5 No, I do not think it is necessary 35 4.7 Follow advice I would definitely go 496 66.9 I would probably go 198 26.7 I would probably not go 26 3.5 I would definitely not go 21 2.8 Last checkup Within the last 1 year 199 26.9 More than 3 years ago 189 25.5 1 to 3 years ago 179 24.2 Never 174 23.5 Item-level performance on the eight knowledge statements showed substantial variability, withfrequent “Not sure” responses (Table 2 ). The highest correct response proportion was observedfor the statement that early treatment can help prevent further vision loss (64.4% correct), followed by recognition that untreated glaucoma can cause irreversible blindness (57.0% correct) and that diabetes increases glaucoma risk (55.1% correct). Approximately half of respondents correctly identified that glaucoma affects the optic nerve (50.1%) and that adults aged ≥ 40 are atincreased risk (49.0%), while fewer correctly identified family history as a risk factor (44.9%). The lowest correct response rates were observed for the two misconception statements requiring a “False” response: only 20.9% correctly rejected the statement that glaucoma usually has noticeable early symptoms such as pain/redness, and 20.9% correctly rejected the statement that glaucoma can be completely cured with full reversal of vision loss (Table 2 ). Item-level accuracy with 95% confidence intervals is illustrated in Fig. 3 . Table 2 Distribution of responses to glaucoma knowledge items among participants (N = 741). Item Correct response Correct n Correct % Incorrect n Incorrect % Not sure n Not sure % Glaucoma affects the nerve that connects the eye to the brain (the optic nerve) True 371 50.1 38 5.1 332 44.8 Glaucoma usually has noticeable symptoms (like pain or redness) in its early stages False 155 20.9 213 28.7 373 50.3 If left untreated, Glaucoma can cause permanent (irreversible) blindness True 422 57 30 4 289 39 Glaucoma can be completely cured (vision loss can be fully reversed) False 155 20.9 227 30.6 359 48.4 Receiving early treatment for Glaucoma can help prevent further vision loss True 477 64.4 15 2 249 33.6 People aged 40 years or older are at a higher risk of developing Glaucoma. True 363 49 42 5.7 336 45.3 Having chronic diseases like Diabetes increases a person's risk of Glaucoma. True 408 55.1 26 3.5 307 41.4 Having a family member with Glaucoma increases a person's risk. True 333 44.9 49 6.6 359 48.4 The total knowledge score ranged from 0 to 8, with a mean of 3.62 ± 2.74 and a median of 4 (IQR 0–6). A substantial proportion of respondents scored at the lower end of the scale, including 201 (27.1%) participants who scored 0, while 46 (6.2%) achieved the maximum scoreof 8. The score distribution is presented in Fig. 1 , and score patterns stratified by gender and residence are displayed in Fig. 2 . Internal consistency of the 8-item knowledge scale was high (Cronbach’s α = 0.87), supporting the reliability of the composite score. To evaluate the robustness of associations to alternative “good knowledge” thresholds, two score-based sensitivity definitions were examined: Good75 (score ≥ 6/8, ≥ 75% correct) and Good80 (score ≥ 7/8, ≈ 80% correct). Under these definitions, 33.9% of participants met the Good75threshold, and 13.8% met the Good80 threshold. Bivariate comparisons using the Good80. Definitions are presented in Table 3 , which includes multiple demographic, residence, clinical, andpractice/attitude variables (including those not statistically significant, as specified). Using χ² testing, Good80 prevalence differed across age groups (overall p = 0.043) and education level (overall p = 0.011) and was higher among urban compared with rural residents (p = 0.012). Gender was not associated with Good80 (p = 0.880), and chronic disease history was notassociated with Good80 in bivariate analysis (Table 3 ). Table 3 Bivariate associations between participant characteristics and high glaucoma knowledge (Good80) (N = 741). Predictor Category Good (n,%) Poor (n,%) χ² p-value Gender Female 52 (14.1) 317 (85.9) 0.02 0.880 Male 50 (13.4) 322 (86.6) 0.02 0.880 Age group 18–24 63 (17.0) 307 (83.0) 9.86 0.043 25–34 24 (13.6) 152 (86.4) 9.86 0.043 35–44 9 (8.9) 92 (91.1) 9.86 0.043 45–54 3 (5.1) 56 (94.9) 9.86 0.043 55 years or older 3 (8.6) 32 (91.4) 9.86 0.043 Education Bachelor's Degree 76 (16.5) 384 (83.5) 12.96 0.011 Completed high school (Tawjihi) 6 (5.6) 101 (94.4) 12.96 0.011 Did not complete high school 5 (8.6) 53 (91.4) 12.96 0.011 Diploma 5 (8.1) 57 (91.9) 12.96 0.011 Postgraduate Degree (Master's, PhD, etc.) 10 (18.5) 44 (81.5) 12.96 0.011 Occupation Employed (Full or Part-time) 31 (10.4) 267 (89.6) 16.77 < 0.001 Retired 5 (23.8) 16 (76.2) 16.77 < 0.001 Student 54 (19.7) 220 (80.3) 16.77 < 0.001 Unemployed 12 (8.1) 136 (91.9) 16.77 < 0.001 Residence Rural (Village/Camp) 25 (8.7) 262 (91.3) 9.4 0.002 Urban (City/Major Town) 77 (17.0) 377 (83.0) 9.4 0.002 Chronic disease No 93 (14.3) 558 (85.7) 0.89 0.346 Yes 9 (10.0) 81 (90.0) 0.89 0.346 Eye exam No 31 (11.9) 229 (88.1) 0.92 0.338 Yes 71 (14.8) 410 (85.2) 0.92 0.338 Heard glaucoma No 11 (3.2) 330 (96.8) 57.48 < 0.001 Yes 91 (22.8) 309 (77.2) 57.48 < 0.001 Screen importance I am unsure 1 (0.7) 136 (99.3) 27.85 < 0.001 No, I do not think it is necessary 2 (5.7) 33 (94.3) 27.85 < 0.001 Yes, it is very important 99 (17.4) 470 (82.6) 27.85 < 0.001 Follow advice I would definitely go 81 (16.3) 415 (83.7) 10.5 0.015 I would definitely not go 0 (0.0) 21 (100.0) 10.5 0.015 I would probably go 20 (10.1) 178 (89.9) 10.5 0.015 I would probably not go 1 (3.8) 25 (96.2) 10.5 0.015 Last checkup 1 to 3 years ago 31 (17.3) 148 (82.7) 7.64 0.054 More than 3 years ago 25 (13.2) 164 (86.8) 7.64 0.054 Never 14 (8.0) 160 (92.0) 7.64 0.054 Within the last 1 year 32 (16.1) 167 (83.9) 7.64 0.054 Score cat 0–2 0 (0.0) 276 (100.0) 230.91 < 0.001 3–5 0 (0.0) 214 (100.0) 230.91 < 0.001 6–8 102 (40.6) 149 (59.4) 230.91 < 0.001 Variables reflecting awareness and care-seeking behaviors demonstrated strong bivariateassociations with Good80. Participants who had heard of glaucoma had markedly higher Good80prevalence than those who had not (p < 0.001). Having ever undergone a comprehensive eyeexamination was also associated with Good80 (p < 0.001). Perceived importance of screening foradults over 40 showed a particularly strong association with Good80 (p < 0.001), and bothlikelihood of following a provider’s referral advice and the timing of the last comprehensive eye check-up were associated with Good80 (overall p < 0.001 for each; Table 3 ). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate adjusted associations with goodknowledge using both sensitivity outcomes (Good75 and Good80). Adjusted effect estimates forboth models are reported in Table 4 . Prior awareness of glaucoma remained the strongestindependent correlate of good knowledge in both models (Good75: aOR 7.89, 95% CI5.08–12.25, p < 0.001; Good80: aOR 6.68, 95% CI 3.37–13.25, p < 0.001). In addition, uncertainty or non-endorsement regarding screening importance for adults over 40 wasindependently associated with substantially lower odds of good knowledge compared withendorsing screening as “very important” (Good75: aOR 0.08, 95% CI 0.03–0.22, p 0.001; < 0.001; Good80: aOR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01–0.46, p = 0.006). Under the stricter Good80 definition, urbanresidence was independently associated with higher odds of good knowledge (aOR 2.10, 95% CI1.24–3.58, p = 0.006). Education retained evidence of association in the Good80 model, withcompleted high school (Tawjihi) showing lower adjusted odds of Good80 compared with aBachelor’s degree (aOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15–0.98, p = 0.045). Older age (≥ 55 years) wasassociated with lower odds of good knowledge compared with 18–24 years in both sensitivitymodels (Good75: aOR 0.24, 95% CI 0.06–0.94, p = 0.040; Good80: aOR 0.06, 95% CI0.01–0.66, p = 0.021). Table 4 Multivariable logistic regression analyses of factors associated with glaucoma knowledge (Good75 and Good80) (N = 741). Predictor Category (vs reference) aOR (≥ 6/8) CI (≥ 6/8) p (≥ 6/8) aOR (≥ 7/8) CI (≥ 7/8) p (≥ 7/8) Age group 25–34 1.26 0.71–2.22 0.433 1.05 0.53–2.09 0.891 35–44 1.02 0.52–2.00 0.960 0.53 0.21–1.35 0.185 45–54 1.12 0.50–2.50 0.784 0.14 0.03–0.72 0.019 55 years or older 0.24 0.06–0.94 0.040 0.06 0.01–0.66 0.021 chronic disease Yes 1.5 0.82–2.75 0.189 0.85 0.36–2.05 0.722 Education Completed high school (Tawjihi) 0.57 0.31–1.05 0.072 0.38 0.15–0.98 0.045 Did not complete high school 1.15 0.53–2.51 0.727 1.12 0.38–3.29 0.832 Diploma 1.02 0.51–2.07 0.947 0.93 0.32–2.69 0.893 Postgraduate Degree (Master's, PhD, etc.) 1.4 0.68–2.86 0.359 1.69 0.70–4.07 0.244 Eye exam Yes 1 0.66–1.51 0.997 0.78 0.47–1.31 0.345 gender Female 1.51 1.02–2.23 0.039 1.27 0.78–2.06 0.343 Heard glaucoma Yes 7.89 5.08–12.25 < 0.001 6.68 3.37–13.25 < 0.001 occupation Retired 2.24 0.57–8.88 0.251 15.14 1.99–115.01 0.009 Student 2.11 1.21–3.69 0.009 1.65 0.83–3.29 0.153 Unemployed 0.74 0.42–1.28 0.281 1.23 0.56–2.67 0.606 residence Urban (City/Major Town) 1.38 0.93–2.04 0.113 2.1 1.24–3.58 0.006 Screen importance I am unsure 0.08 0.03–0.22 < 0.001 0.06 0.01–0.46 0.006 No, I do not think it is necessary 0.4 0.16–0.98 0.045 0.27 0.06–1.21 0.088 Finally, a strict sensitivity definition was evaluated to reduce misclassification due tomisconception endorsement. Under this definition, participants were classified as “strict goodknowledge” only if they scored ≥ 7/8 and answered both misconception items correctly (rejecting early pain/redness symptoms and rejecting “complete cure”). Using this criterion, 60/741 (8.1%) participants met the strict definition (reported in the strict sensitivity outputs). In the reducedmultivariable model (constructed to mitigate sparse-data instability due to the low event rate), prior awareness of glaucoma remained independently associated with strict good knowledge (aOR 5.88, 95% CI 2.42–14.29, p = < 0.001), and urban residence was also associated (aOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.11–4.11, p = 0.024). Lower odds of strict good knowledge were observed amongparticipants who did not endorse screening importance (not sure/not necessary vs. veryimportant: aOR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01–0.59, p = 0.014). Discussion The aim of this population-based cross-sectional study is to determine the awareness and knowledge about glaucoma in the general population of Palestine. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate awareness and knowledge of glaucoma in the general population of Palestine. In this study, 54% had ever heard of glaucoma. This level of awareness is higher than that reported in studies from neighboring countries. A study among the general population in Jordan reported an awareness level of 38% [ 10 ], while a cross-sectional study in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, found that 37.8% of participants had heard of glaucoma [ 11 ]. However, while more than half of respondents had heard the name of the disease, only 13.8% had good knowledge (scoring ≥ 6/8 on the knowledge scale). Studies from Jordan and Riyadh reported higher rates, with 47.6% of Jordanian participants having moderate to good awareness [ 10 ] and 28% of Riyadh participants having good awareness (with just 4.4% having excellent awareness) [ 11 ], both higher than our findings, though direct comparison is limited by different assessment criteria. This finding is comparable to a recent German population study by Terheyden et al., where only 9% of respondents correctly answered all glaucoma-related knowledge items [ 12 ]. The strongest predictor of good knowledge in our study was prior awareness of glaucoma. Participants who had previously heard of glaucoma were approximately eight times more likely to have good knowledge compared to those who had not heard of the disease (aOR = 7.89, P < 0.001). However, even among those who had heard of glaucoma, only 22.8% had good knowledge scores. This finding is consistent with studies from Saudi Arabia [ 11 ] and Ethiopia [ 13 ], where prior awareness of glaucoma was significantly associated with better knowledge levels. Our study revealed significant gaps in specific knowledge aspects which are critical for early detection, particularly regarding the asymptomatic nature of the disease, irreversibility of blindness, and knowledge of risk factors. Glaucoma is often called the silent thief of sight because major optic nerve damage can occur before it causes any symptoms [ 14 ]. In our study, only 20.9% of participants correctly recognized that glaucoma is asymptomatic in its early stages. Nearly one-third (28.7%) of participants believed that glaucoma presents with noticeable symptoms such as pain or redness early in the disease course. In the present study, 57% correctly recognized that untreated glaucoma causes permanent blindness, comparable to findings from Jordan, where 40.5% identified glaucoma as a blinding condition [ 10 ]. However, only 20.9% in our sample identified that glaucoma cannot be completely cured, much lower than the 52.2% of Jordanian participants who correctly identified that glaucoma is treatable but not curable [ 10 ]. Recognition of glaucoma risk factors was limited in the present study. Age ≥ 40 years was correctly identified as a risk factor by 49.0% of participants, family history by 44.9%, and diabetes by 55.1%. Diabetes was the better-recognized risk factor among the three, likely reflecting broader public health awareness about diabetic complications. The presence of chronic disease, including diabetes, was not significantly associated with better glaucoma knowledge (p = 0.346), despite 12.1% of participants having chronic conditions. This finding contrasts with a study from the western region of Saudi Arabia, where participants with diabetes had significantly higher awareness rates (70.2% compared with 64.4%) [ 15 ]. However, when examining detailed knowledge scores rather than basic awareness, the same study found no significant association between diabetes and knowledge, similar to our findings. Participants aged 55 years and older had the poorest knowledge levels, with significantly lower odds of having good knowledge compared to younger age groups (aOR = 0.24, p = 0.040). This pattern was also seen in studies from Saudi Arabia [ 11 ] and Ethiopia [ 13 ], where younger participants had better glaucoma knowledge than older age groups. Consistent with previous findings from studies in Saudi Arabia [ 11 ] and Ethiopia [ 13 ], the present study identified a statistically significant association between educational level and glaucoma knowledge. Participants with postgraduate and bachelor’s degrees had the highest rates of good knowledge (18.5% and 16.5%, respectively), whereas those with a high school education or less showed lower understanding of the disease (5.6%). The lower level of knowledge observed among elderly participants in our study may partly reflect the lower educational attainment in this age group compared to younger populations. In the present study, retired participants and students had the highest rates of good knowledge (23.8% and 19.7%, respectively), followed by employed individuals (10.4%), while unemployed participants had the poorest understanding (8.1%). In the multivariate analysis of the study results, students were more likely to have good knowledge compared to employed individuals. This association may reflect greater engagement with educational environments, increased use of digital information sources, and higher health literacy among students, even after adjusting for other sociodemographic factors. In contrast to education, occupation, and age, gender showed minimal association with glaucoma knowledge in bivariate analysis (p = 0.880), with 14.1% of females and 13.4% of males having good knowledge. After adjusting for confounders, female gender showed a modest positive association (aOR = 1.51, p = 0.039), though this effect was weaker than other predictors and disappeared at strict knowledge cutoffs. This finding contrasts with studies from neighboring countries. In Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh region, gender was significantly associated with glaucoma awareness, with women having better knowledge levels [ 11 ]. The small gender difference in our study may reflect the relatively high proportion of educated participants (62.1% with bachelor’s degrees) and urban residents (61.3%), populations in which access to education and health-related information is likely more equitable between genders. Residents of urban centers had almost twice the rate of good knowledge (17%) compared to those in rural villages and camps (8.7%). This gap may reflect the concentration of healthcare services and public health campaigns in cities, with rural populations having less access to health information. This finding is consistent with results found in studies from northwest Ethiopia [ 13 ], and southern India [ 16 ]. The inadequate level of glaucoma knowledge represents a major barrier to effective screening behavior in Palestine. Early detection is fundamental in glaucoma management, as the disease is asymptomatic in early stages when intervention is most effective [ 14 ]. This knowledge gap is reflected in our findings regarding eye examination behavior. Nearly one-quarter of participants (23.5%) reported never having undergone any eye examination, and only 26.9% had been examined within the preceding year. Having previously undergone an eye examination was not significantly associated with better glaucoma knowledge (p = 0.338), suggesting that routine clinical visits do not include adequate glaucoma education. Participants who would definitely go for screening if advised had better knowledge (16.3%) compared with those who would “probably not go” (3.8%) or “definitely not go” (0%), indicating a significant association between screening intention and knowledge (p = 0.015). Our findings have several implications for glaucoma prevention in Palestine. Although over half of the participants recognized the term "glaucoma," fewer than one in seven understood key aspects of the disease. This suggests that awareness campaigns alone are not enough. Education must move beyond name recognition to address the asymptomatic nature of early disease, the irreversibility of vision loss, and established risk factors. The lack of association between previous eye examinations and knowledge levels suggests that clinical visits are not being used adequately to educate patients. Training ophthalmologists and primary care physicians to routinely discuss glaucoma during consultations may improve population knowledge. Knowledge gaps were largest among older adults, rural residents, and unemployed individuals. These groups also face higher glaucoma risk. Prevention strategies should focus on reaching these populations through community health workers, integration into primary care services, and mobile screening programs. The study had several strengths. The large sample size (n = 741) gave adequate statistical power to find associations between demographic factors and knowledge. The eight-item knowledge assessment covered multiple aspects of glaucoma (pathophysiology, symptoms, outcomes, and risk factors), allowing us to identify specific gaps. Including both urban and rural participants across different age groups and educational levels makes the findings more generalizable to the Palestinian population. However, several limitations should be noted. Self-reported data on chronic disease and eye examination history may be inaccurate. The online survey format likely reached more educated, health-conscious individuals, potentially overestimating population knowledge. The binary scoring (correct/incorrect) may have missed a partial understanding. Conclusion This study highlights substantial gaps in public knowledge and awareness of glaucoma in Palestine. While over half of participants had heard of glaucoma, only a small fraction possessed adequate knowledge regarding its asymptomatic progression, irreversibility, and risk factors. Prior awareness, younger age, higher education, urban residency, and student status were significantly associated with better knowledge. The findings indicate that awareness campaigns alone are insufficient; targeted educational interventions integrated into primary care and community programs are essential to improve early detection, screening uptake and ultimately reduce glaucoma-related blindness. Special attention should be given to older adults, rural residents, and those with lower educational levels to address health disparities in glaucoma awareness. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate All procedures performed in this study involving human participants complied with the ethical standards of the Institutional Review Board Committee at Al-Quds University and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board Committee at Al-Quds University. Clinical trial number: not applicable. Consent for publication: The manuscript contains no images or videos—not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Funding: No funding sources are available. Author Contribution Mohammad W. Awlad Mohammad: Idea developer, primary mentor, conclusion and Abstract writing, and writing reviewer for all research(Basel Bader, Mohammad Fuad Sayes) discussion writing and questionnaire development Alhareth M. Amro: statistical analysisToqa W Awlad Mohammad: Introduction and methodology writing(Essa Hasheem, Mohammad Amro, Darwish M. Mosameh, Dania Amwas): data collection (Abdallah Qawasmeh, Farid k Abu Sham’a): final editor Acknowledgements: None. Data Availability The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. 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Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among visitors of main public hospitals in Damascus, Syria: a cross-sectional study. BMC Ophthalmol. 2023;23(1):17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-022-02766-4 . Bodunde OT, Daneil OJ, Onobolu OO, Ajibode HA, Awodein OG, Jagun O, Fafiolu VO. Knowledge, Attitude, and Health Believes of Glaucoma Patients in a Nigerian Hospital. Nigerian Med practitioner. 2008;50:62–4. Abu Hassan DW, Alsibai BA, Alhouri AN, Alhajeh RY, Suleiman AA, Al Bdour MD. Awareness and knowledge about glaucoma among patients attending outpatient clinics of Jordan University Hospital. Saudi J ophthalmology: official J Saudi Ophthalmological Soc. 2021;34(4):284–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/1319-4534.322618 . Alqahtani SM, Bakarman MA, Almanjoumi A, Alzahrani SH. Awareness and knowledge about glaucoma among patients visiting the screening clinic in Jeddah Eye Hospital, Saudi Arabia. Int J Ophthalmol. 2021;14(6):887–95. https://doi.org/10.18240/ijo.2021.06.15 . Alamri A, Bakri KA, Alqarni SM, Alosaimi MN, Alshehri EY, Alshahrani MS. Knowledge and awareness of glaucoma in a population of Abha, Southern Saudi Arabia. J family Med Prim care. 2022;11(10):6165–9. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2346_20 . Haddad MF, Bakkar MM, Abdo N. Public awareness of common eye diseases in Jordan. BMC Ophthalmol. 2017;17(1):177. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-017-0575-3 . Bamefleh D, Alassaf OM, Algahtani ZM. Investigation of Knowledge, Awareness, and Practices of Glaucoma in Riyadh City. Saudi Arabia Cureus. 2024;16(1):e51700. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.51700 . Terheyden JH, Fink DJ, Mercieca K, Wintergerst MWM, Holz FG, Finger RP. Knowledge about age-related eye diseases in the general population in Germany. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):409. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17889-0 . Alemu DS, Gudeta AD, Gebreselassie KL. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma and associated factors among adults: a cross sectional study in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Ophthalmol. 2017;17(1):154. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-017-0542-z . Dietze J, Blair K, Havens SJ. (2024). Glaucoma. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538217/ Ahmedhussain H, Badeeb NO, Madani F, Khawandanh LZ, Al-Abbas EA, Badeeb O. Awareness and Knowledge About Glaucoma in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Population-Based Survey. Cureus. 2023;15(10):e47090. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.47090 . Chander A, Chopra R, Batra N, Choudhrie D. (2015). Awareness of glaucoma amongst the rural and urban population of North India. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 5(8), 116–121. Retrieved from https://www.ijhsr.org/IJHSR_Vol.5_Issue.8_Aug2015/20.pdf Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 07 Mar, 2026 Reviews received at journal 05 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 03 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 03 Feb, 2026 Editor invited by journal 30 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 30 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 30 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8682885","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":585804695,"identity":"f7fdecdd-89f3-4670-afe1-7455a884dc6d","order_by":0,"name":"Mohammad W. Awlad Mohammad","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohammad","middleName":"W. Awlad","lastName":"Mohammad","suffix":""},{"id":585804698,"identity":"88a8a3de-da15-4eda-8896-8c5006dd95bf","order_by":1,"name":"Basel Bader","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Basel","middleName":"","lastName":"Bader","suffix":""},{"id":585804700,"identity":"1a4d249c-0970-4532-9066-a5d572315d34","order_by":2,"name":"Mohammad Fuad Sayes","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohammad","middleName":"Fuad","lastName":"Sayes","suffix":""},{"id":585804701,"identity":"4953e3d1-11e4-49e6-a662-259910c67fdc","order_by":3,"name":"Alhareth M. 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Mosameh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Darwish","middleName":"M.","lastName":"Mosameh","suffix":""},{"id":585804712,"identity":"dd498ec2-b6df-43ee-a1cb-dd925d66849e","order_by":8,"name":"Dania Amwas","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Hebron University.","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Dania","middleName":"","lastName":"Amwas","suffix":""},{"id":585804714,"identity":"87b0860a-374d-4c79-8b10-2fedfef8a4b0","order_by":9,"name":"Abdallah Qawasmeh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Health Education and Scientific Research Unit, MOH","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Abdallah","middleName":"","lastName":"Qawasmeh","suffix":""},{"id":585804715,"identity":"63f8518d-69f6-4fa0-9fe0-b8ba32d8cd67","order_by":10,"name":"Farid k Abu sham’a","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Health Education and Scientific Research Unit, MOH","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Farid","middleName":"k Abu","lastName":"sham’a","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-23 23:54:04","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8682885/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8682885/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102180466,"identity":"b6321a90-62c0-4074-bfed-59bbfb11aeab","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-09 07:13:07","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":55358,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistribution of total glaucoma knowledge scores among participants (N = 741).\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8682885/v1/cc5676ea57bdf2adff982511.png"},{"id":102180661,"identity":"f20b3700-fef4-4ce7-b638-e4cbfa92a5b0","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-09 07:13:25","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":58939,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGlaucoma knowledge scores by gender and residence (N = 741).\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8682885/v1/a769de424904dfeaa18322b7.png"},{"id":102180470,"identity":"f419731d-8648-4926-ba85-0b3f701867e1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-09 07:13:11","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":54139,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProportion of correct responses for each glaucoma knowledge item with 95% confidence intervals (N = 741).\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8682885/v1/6e9dd35d21f3b33396b2ec1b.png"},{"id":102180735,"identity":"711f6210-b6b8-403e-b051-24d999bf4784","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-09 07:13:44","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1247685,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8682885/v1/37c20d71-35b4-4849-a382-44dde20f4d81.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness of Glaucoma among the General Population in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe key to preventing many diseases is early detection and diagnosis. One of the most significant of these conditions is glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and a leading cause of irreversible blindness, with 3.61\u0026nbsp;million blind individuals and more than 4\u0026nbsp;million visually impaired people globally. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, glaucoma continues to impose a substantial public health burden, largely due to its insidious onset and asymptomatic progression in early stages.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlaucoma is a chronic optic neuropathy characterized by progressive optic nerve damage and corresponding visual field loss, commonly associated with elevated intraocular pressure [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Vision loss from glaucoma is irreversible, and delayed diagnosis often results in permanent blindness. Alarmingly, recent clinical evidence indicates that up to 36% of patients present with blindness in at least one eye at their first ophthalmic consultation, reflecting advanced disease at the time of diagnosis [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. This late presentation is frequently attributed to poor awareness, limited knowledge, and inadequate recognition of early symptoms, which delay treatment-seeking behaviour [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeople's treatment-seeking behaviour is significantly influenced by their awareness and knowledge of glaucoma. The lack of awareness is pervasive throughout the world and is not confined to any one location; prior research conducted in Africa revealed that Caucasians, Nigerians, and Ghanaians had low levels of awareness and understanding of glaucoma [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdditionally, there aren't many studies assessing awareness of eye diseases in general, and glaucoma in particular, in the Middle East, where Saudis and Jordanians have high awareness of glaucoma but low to average knowledge of it [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. For this reason, it was necessary to conduct awareness assessment studies in additional countries in the region, such as Palestine, Lebanon, and others.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite the recognized importance of public awareness, data on glaucoma knowledge, awareness, and attitudes in Palestine remain scarce. Given the unique healthcare challenges and limited screening opportunities in the region, understanding population-level perceptions of glaucoma is essential for designing targeted educational and preventive interventions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTherefore, this study aims to assess the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding glaucoma among the general population in Palestine, and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with inadequate knowledge. The findings are intended to inform public health strategies aimed at promoting early detection, improving treatment-seeking behavior, and ultimately reducing glaucoma-related visual impairment and blindness.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Method","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis public-based cross-sectional study utilized a questionnaire specifically designed for data collection, comprising demographic inquiries and items pertaining to glaucoma awareness among the general population in Palestine. The questionnaire underwent forward and backward translation. The data gathering method employed an online questionnaire, derived from a prior study[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. The co-authors initially prepared it in English. It was rendered into Arabic (suitable to the local accent). A pilot study was conducted on 50 participants, and the questionnaire was reviewed according to the primary statistical study. Also, the survey was tested for reliability using the Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s Alpha test. Internal stability of (0.87). The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 software was utilized for data analysis. Data was acquired by trained data collectors following a briefing of the questionnaire to the respondents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAlmost all questions are closed. The questionnaire consists of four parts: sociodemographic or background information, awareness and information sources, knowledge, assessment questions to measure clinical characteristics and awareness of glaucoma, and attitudes \u0026amp; practices. We have allocated one point (1) to each question from the third questionnaire group for each true answer and zero points (0) to the wrong answers.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eData collection took place in the West Bank and Jerusalem in Palestine. The study was a cross-sectional one conducted from December 1, 2025, to December 30, 2025, to determine the awareness of 741 females and males aged from 18 years up to more than 50 years about glaucoma, where participation in the survey was voluntary. The researcher's bias was assessed by analyzing response patterns based on age or educational attainment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWith 372 (50.2%) males and 369 (49.8%) females. The inclusion criteria were any adult above 18 years old and both male and female residents of the West Bank or Jerusalem. The exclusion criterion was people under 18 years of age. The study was approved by the research ethics committee of the College of Medicine, Al Quds University. Informed consent was obtained from all respondents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe data was automatically exported from Google Forms to Excel, and analysis were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), version 23. Means and standard deviations (SD) are employed to represent continuous variables, whilst frequencies and percentages are utilized to convey the data. The chi-square test was employed to evaluate the differences among groups, to maintain model stability with low outcome prevalence. Multivariable logistic regression was used. The sample size (n) was determined by Cochran\u0026rsquo;s Sample Size Formula with the assumption of a 95% confidence level and a margin of error which is 5%, and p is the (estimated) proportion of the population which has the attribute in question, which it equals 50% (or 0.5). The required sample size (n) for this study, applying the previous formula, is 385.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eA total of 741 respondents were included. Participant characteristics and key eye-health practices are summarized in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. The sample was nearly balanced by gender (male: 372 [50.2%], female: 369 [49.8%]) and was predominantly young, with 18\u0026ndash;24 years representing 49.9% ofparticipants. Most respondents reported a bachelor\u0026rsquo;s degree (62.1%), and 61.3% lived in urbanareas. A history of chronic disease was reported by 12.1%. Regarding eye-health behaviours, 64.9% reported ever having a comprehensive eye examination by an eye-care professional, andthe timing of the last eye check-up varied (including 23.5% who reported never having had acomprehensive eye check-up). Most participants indicated willingness to follow a provider\u0026rsquo;s recommendation for an eye examination, and the majority considered glaucoma screening foradults over 40 years to be \u0026ldquo;very important\u0026rdquo; (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Overall, 54.0% of participants reportedhaving heard of glaucoma, while 46.0% had not. Among those who had heard of glaucoma, information sources commonly included online platforms and interpersonal sources, withhealthcare professionals and academic settings also frequently reported.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSociodemographic characteristics and eye-health practices of study participants (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;741).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCategory\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003en\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e372\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e369\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u0026ndash;24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e370\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e176\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35\u0026ndash;44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e101\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u0026ndash;54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55 years or older\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBachelor's Degree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e460\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCompleted high school (Tawjihi)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e107\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiploma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDid not complete high school\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePostgraduate Degree (Master's, PhD, etc.)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOccupation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmployed (Full or Part-time)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e298\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudent\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e274\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnemployed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e148\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRetired\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eResidence\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrban (City/Major Town)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e454\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRural (Village/Camp)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e287\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChronic disease\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e651\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e87.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEye exam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e481\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e260\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHeard glaucoma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e400\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e341\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eScreen importance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes, it is very important\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e569\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI am unsure\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e137\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo, I do not think it is necessary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFollow advice\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would definitely go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e496\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e66.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would probably go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e198\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would probably not go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would definitely not go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLast checkup\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWithin the last 1 year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e199\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMore than 3 years ago\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e189\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 to 3 years ago\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e179\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNever\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e174\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eItem-level performance on the eight knowledge statements showed substantial variability, withfrequent \u0026ldquo;Not sure\u0026rdquo; responses (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The highest correct response proportion was observedfor the statement that early treatment can help prevent further vision loss (64.4% correct), followed by recognition that untreated glaucoma can cause irreversible blindness (57.0% correct) and that diabetes increases glaucoma risk (55.1% correct). Approximately half of respondents correctly identified that glaucoma affects the optic nerve (50.1%) and that adults aged\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;40 are atincreased risk (49.0%), while fewer correctly identified family history as a risk factor (44.9%). The lowest correct response rates were observed for the two misconception statements requiring a \u0026ldquo;False\u0026rdquo; response: only 20.9% correctly rejected the statement that glaucoma usually has noticeable early symptoms such as pain/redness, and 20.9% correctly rejected the statement that glaucoma can be completely cured with full reversal of vision loss (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Item-level accuracy with 95% confidence intervals is illustrated in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDistribution of responses to glaucoma knowledge items among participants (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;741).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eItem\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCorrect response\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCorrect n\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCorrect %\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncorrect n\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncorrect %\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot sure n\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNot sure %\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlaucoma affects the nerve that connects the eye to the brain (the optic nerve)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e371\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e332\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlaucoma usually has noticeable symptoms (like pain or redness) in its early stages\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFalse\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e155\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e213\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e373\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIf left untreated, Glaucoma can cause permanent (irreversible) blindness\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e422\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlaucoma can be completely cured (vision loss can be fully reversed)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFalse\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e155\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e227\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e359\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eReceiving early treatment for Glaucoma can help prevent further vision loss\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e477\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e249\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeople aged 40 years or older are at a higher risk of developing Glaucoma.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e363\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e336\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHaving chronic diseases like Diabetes increases a person's risk of Glaucoma.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e408\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e307\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHaving a family member with Glaucoma increases a person's risk.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrue\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e333\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e359\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe total knowledge score ranged from 0 to 8, with a mean of 3.62\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.74 and a median of 4 (IQR 0\u0026ndash;6). A substantial proportion of respondents scored at the lower end of the scale, including 201 (27.1%) participants who scored 0, while 46 (6.2%) achieved the maximum scoreof 8. The score distribution is presented in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, and score patterns stratified by gender and residence are displayed in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e. Internal consistency of the 8-item knowledge scale was high (Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.87), supporting the reliability of the composite score.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo evaluate the robustness of associations to alternative \u0026ldquo;good knowledge\u0026rdquo; thresholds, two score-based sensitivity definitions were examined: Good75 (score\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;6/8, \u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;75% correct) and Good80 (score\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;7/8, \u0026asymp;\u0026thinsp;80% correct). Under these definitions, 33.9% of participants met the Good75threshold, and 13.8% met the Good80 threshold. Bivariate comparisons using the Good80.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDefinitions are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, which includes multiple demographic, residence, clinical, andpractice/attitude variables (including those not statistically significant, as specified). Using χ\u0026sup2; testing, Good80 prevalence differed across age groups (overall p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.043) and education level (overall p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.011) and was higher among urban compared with rural residents (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.012). Gender was not associated with Good80 (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.880), and chronic disease history was notassociated with Good80 in bivariate analysis (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBivariate associations between participant characteristics and high glaucoma knowledge (Good80) (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;741).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePredictor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCategory\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood (n,%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor (n,%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52 (14.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e317 (85.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.880\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50 (13.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e322 (86.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.880\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge group\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u0026ndash;24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63 (17.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e307 (83.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.043\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24 (13.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e152 (86.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.043\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35\u0026ndash;44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (8.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e92 (91.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.043\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u0026ndash;54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (5.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56 (94.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.043\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55 years or older\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (8.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32 (91.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.043\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBachelor's Degree\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76 (16.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e384 (83.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCompleted high school (Tawjihi)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (5.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e101 (94.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDid not complete high school\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (8.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53 (91.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiploma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (8.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57 (91.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePostgraduate Degree (Master's, PhD, etc.)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (18.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44 (81.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOccupation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmployed (Full or Part-time)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31 (10.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e267 (89.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRetired\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (23.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (76.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudent\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54 (19.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e220 (80.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnemployed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (8.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e136 (91.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eResidence\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRural (Village/Camp)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 (8.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e262 (91.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrban (City/Major Town)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77 (17.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e377 (83.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChronic disease\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e93 (14.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e558 (85.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.346\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (10.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e81 (90.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.346\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEye exam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31 (11.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e229 (88.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.92\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.338\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71 (14.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e410 (85.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.92\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.338\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHeard glaucoma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (3.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e330 (96.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91 (22.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e309 (77.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eScreen importance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI am unsure\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (0.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e136 (99.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo, I do not think it is necessary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (5.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33 (94.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes, it is very important\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e99 (17.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e470 (82.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFollow advice\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would definitely go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e81 (16.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e415 (83.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.015\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would definitely not go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21 (100.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.015\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would probably go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (10.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e178 (89.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.015\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI would probably not go\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (3.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 (96.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.015\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLast checkup\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 to 3 years ago\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e31 (17.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e148 (82.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.054\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMore than 3 years ago\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 (13.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e164 (86.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.054\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNever\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 (8.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e160 (92.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.054\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWithin the last 1 year\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32 (16.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e167 (83.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.054\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eScore cat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u0026ndash;2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e276 (100.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e230.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u0026ndash;5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0 (0.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e214 (100.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e230.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u0026ndash;8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e102 (40.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e149 (59.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e230.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables reflecting awareness and care-seeking behaviors demonstrated strong bivariateassociations with Good80. Participants who had heard of glaucoma had markedly higher Good80prevalence than those who had not (p \u0026amp;lt; 0.001). Having ever undergone a comprehensive eyeexamination was also associated with Good80 (p \u0026amp;lt; 0.001). Perceived importance of screening foradults over 40 showed a particularly strong association with Good80 (p \u0026amp;lt; 0.001), and bothlikelihood of following a provider\u0026rsquo;s referral advice and the timing of the last comprehensive eye check-up were associated with Good80 (overall p \u0026amp;lt; 0.001 for each; Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMultivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate adjusted associations with goodknowledge using both sensitivity outcomes (Good75 and Good80). Adjusted effect estimates forboth models are reported in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e. Prior awareness of glaucoma remained the strongestindependent correlate of good knowledge in both models (Good75: aOR 7.89, 95% CI5.08\u0026ndash;12.25, p \u0026amp;lt 0.001; Good80: aOR 6.68, 95% CI 3.37\u0026ndash;13.25, p \u0026amp;lt; 0.001). In addition, uncertainty or non-endorsement regarding screening importance for adults over 40 wasindependently associated with substantially lower odds of good knowledge compared withendorsing screening as \u0026ldquo;very important\u0026rdquo; (Good75: aOR 0.08, 95% CI 0.03\u0026ndash;0.22, p 0.001; \u0026amp;lt 0.001; Good80: aOR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01\u0026ndash;0.46, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.006). Under the stricter Good80 definition, urbanresidence was independently associated with higher odds of good knowledge (aOR 2.10, 95% CI1.24\u0026ndash;3.58, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.006). Education retained evidence of association in the Good80 model, withcompleted high school (Tawjihi) showing lower adjusted odds of Good80 compared with aBachelor\u0026rsquo;s degree (aOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15\u0026ndash;0.98, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.045). Older age (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;55 years) wasassociated with lower odds of good knowledge compared with 18\u0026ndash;24 years in both sensitivitymodels (Good75: aOR 0.24, 95% CI 0.06\u0026ndash;0.94, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.040; Good80: aOR 0.06, 95% CI0.01\u0026ndash;0.66, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.021).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMultivariable logistic regression analyses of factors associated with glaucoma knowledge (Good75 and Good80) (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;741).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePredictor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCategory (vs reference)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eaOR (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;6/8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCI (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;6/8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;6/8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eaOR (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;7/8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCI (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;7/8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ep (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;7/8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge group\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u0026ndash;34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.71\u0026ndash;2.22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.433\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.53\u0026ndash;2.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.891\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35\u0026ndash;44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.52\u0026ndash;2.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.960\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.21\u0026ndash;1.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.185\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u0026ndash;54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.50\u0026ndash;2.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.784\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.03\u0026ndash;0.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.019\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55 years or older\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.06\u0026ndash;0.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.040\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u0026ndash;0.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.021\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003echronic disease\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.82\u0026ndash;2.75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.189\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.36\u0026ndash;2.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.722\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCompleted high school (Tawjihi)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.31\u0026ndash;1.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.072\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.15\u0026ndash;0.98\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.045\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDid not complete high school\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.53\u0026ndash;2.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.727\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.38\u0026ndash;3.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.832\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiploma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.51\u0026ndash;2.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.947\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u0026ndash;2.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.893\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePostgraduate Degree (Master's, PhD, etc.)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.68\u0026ndash;2.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.359\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.70\u0026ndash;4.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.244\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEye exam\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.66\u0026ndash;1.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.997\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.78\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.47\u0026ndash;1.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.345\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003egender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.02\u0026ndash;2.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.039\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.78\u0026ndash;2.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.343\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHeard glaucoma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.08\u0026ndash;12.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.37\u0026ndash;13.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eoccupation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRetired\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.57\u0026ndash;8.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.251\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.99\u0026ndash;115.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.009\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudent\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.21\u0026ndash;3.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.009\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.83\u0026ndash;3.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.153\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnemployed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.74\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.42\u0026ndash;1.28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.281\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.56\u0026ndash;2.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.606\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eresidence\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrban (City/Major Town)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.93\u0026ndash;2.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.113\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.24\u0026ndash;3.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eScreen importance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eI am unsure\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.03\u0026ndash;0.22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u0026ndash;0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo, I do not think it is necessary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.16\u0026ndash;0.98\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.045\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.06\u0026ndash;1.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.088\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinally, a strict sensitivity definition was evaluated to reduce misclassification due tomisconception endorsement. Under this definition, participants were classified as \u0026ldquo;strict goodknowledge\u0026rdquo; only if they scored\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;7/8 and answered both misconception items correctly (rejecting early pain/redness symptoms and rejecting \u0026ldquo;complete cure\u0026rdquo;). Using this criterion, 60/741 (8.1%) participants met the strict definition (reported in the strict sensitivity outputs). In the reducedmultivariable model (constructed to mitigate sparse-data instability due to the low event rate), prior awareness of glaucoma remained independently associated with strict good knowledge (aOR 5.88, 95% CI 2.42\u0026ndash;14.29, p = \u0026amp;lt 0.001), and urban residence was also associated (aOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.11\u0026ndash;4.11, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.024). Lower odds of strict good knowledge were observed amongparticipants who did not endorse screening importance (not sure/not necessary vs. veryimportant: aOR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01\u0026ndash;0.59, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.014).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe aim of this population-based cross-sectional study is to determine the awareness and knowledge about glaucoma in the general population of Palestine. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate awareness and knowledge of glaucoma in the general population of Palestine.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this study, 54% had ever heard of glaucoma. This level of awareness is higher than that reported in studies from neighboring countries. A study among the general population in Jordan reported an awareness level of 38% [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e], while a cross-sectional study in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, found that 37.8% of participants had heard of glaucoma [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, while more than half of respondents had heard the name of the disease, only 13.8% had good knowledge (scoring\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;6/8 on the knowledge scale). Studies from Jordan and Riyadh reported higher rates, with 47.6% of Jordanian participants having moderate to good awareness [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e] and 28% of Riyadh participants having good awareness (with just 4.4% having excellent awareness) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e], both higher than our findings, though direct comparison is limited by different assessment criteria. This finding is comparable to a recent German population study by Terheyden et al., where only 9% of respondents correctly answered all glaucoma-related knowledge items [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe strongest predictor of good knowledge in our study was prior awareness of glaucoma. Participants who had previously heard of glaucoma were approximately eight times more likely to have good knowledge compared to those who had not heard of the disease (aOR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;7.89, P\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). However, even among those who had heard of glaucoma, only 22.8% had good knowledge scores. This finding is consistent with studies from Saudi Arabia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e] and Ethiopia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e], where prior awareness of glaucoma was significantly associated with better knowledge levels.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur study revealed significant gaps in specific knowledge aspects which are critical for early detection, particularly regarding the asymptomatic nature of the disease, irreversibility of blindness, and knowledge of risk factors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlaucoma is often called the silent thief of sight because major optic nerve damage can occur before it causes any symptoms [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. In our study, only 20.9% of participants correctly recognized that glaucoma is asymptomatic in its early stages. Nearly one-third (28.7%) of participants believed that glaucoma presents with noticeable symptoms such as pain or redness early in the disease course.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the present study, 57% correctly recognized that untreated glaucoma causes permanent blindness, comparable to findings from Jordan, where 40.5% identified glaucoma as a blinding condition [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. However, only 20.9% in our sample identified that glaucoma cannot be completely cured, much lower than the 52.2% of Jordanian participants who correctly identified that glaucoma is treatable but not curable [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecognition of glaucoma risk factors was limited in the present study. Age\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;40 years was correctly identified as a risk factor by 49.0% of participants, family history by 44.9%, and diabetes by 55.1%. Diabetes was the better-recognized risk factor among the three, likely reflecting broader public health awareness about diabetic complications.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe presence of chronic disease, including diabetes, was not significantly associated with better glaucoma knowledge (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.346), despite 12.1% of participants having chronic conditions. This finding contrasts with a study from the western region of Saudi Arabia, where participants with diabetes had significantly higher awareness rates (70.2% compared with 64.4%) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. However, when examining detailed knowledge scores rather than basic awareness, the same study found no significant association between diabetes and knowledge, similar to our findings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants aged 55 years and older had the poorest knowledge levels, with significantly lower odds of having good knowledge compared to younger age groups (aOR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.24, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.040). This pattern was also seen in studies from Saudi Arabia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e] and Ethiopia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e], where younger participants had better glaucoma knowledge than older age groups.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConsistent with previous findings from studies in Saudi Arabia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e] and Ethiopia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e], the present study identified a statistically significant association between educational level and glaucoma knowledge. Participants with postgraduate and bachelor\u0026rsquo;s degrees had the highest rates of good knowledge (18.5% and 16.5%, respectively), whereas those with a high school education or less showed lower understanding of the disease (5.6%). The lower level of knowledge observed among elderly participants in our study may partly reflect the lower educational attainment in this age group compared to younger populations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the present study, retired participants and students had the highest rates of good knowledge (23.8% and 19.7%, respectively), followed by employed individuals (10.4%), while unemployed participants had the poorest understanding (8.1%). In the multivariate analysis of the study results, students were more likely to have good knowledge compared to employed individuals. This association may reflect greater engagement with educational environments, increased use of digital information sources, and higher health literacy among students, even after adjusting for other sociodemographic factors.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn contrast to education, occupation, and age, gender showed minimal association with glaucoma knowledge in bivariate analysis (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.880), with 14.1% of females and 13.4% of males having good knowledge. After adjusting for confounders, female gender showed a modest positive association (aOR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.51, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.039), though this effect was weaker than other predictors and disappeared at strict knowledge cutoffs. This finding contrasts with studies from neighboring countries. In Saudi Arabia\u0026rsquo;s Riyadh region, gender was significantly associated with glaucoma awareness, with women having better knowledge levels [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. The small gender difference in our study may reflect the relatively high proportion of educated participants (62.1% with bachelor\u0026rsquo;s degrees) and urban residents (61.3%), populations in which access to education and health-related information is likely more equitable between genders.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eResidents of urban centers had almost twice the rate of good knowledge (17%) compared to those in rural villages and camps (8.7%). This gap may reflect the concentration of healthcare services and public health campaigns in cities, with rural populations having less access to health information. This finding is consistent with results found in studies from northwest Ethiopia [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e], and southern India [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe inadequate level of glaucoma knowledge represents a major barrier to effective screening behavior in Palestine. Early detection is fundamental in glaucoma management, as the disease is asymptomatic in early stages when intervention is most effective [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. This knowledge gap is reflected in our findings regarding eye examination behavior. Nearly one-quarter of participants (23.5%) reported never having undergone any eye examination, and only 26.9% had been examined within the preceding year.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHaving previously undergone an eye examination was not significantly associated with better glaucoma knowledge (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.338), suggesting that routine clinical visits do not include adequate glaucoma education. Participants who would definitely go for screening if advised had better knowledge (16.3%) compared with those who would \u0026ldquo;probably not go\u0026rdquo; (3.8%) or \u0026ldquo;definitely not go\u0026rdquo; (0%), indicating a significant association between screening intention and knowledge (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.015).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur findings have several implications for glaucoma prevention in Palestine. Although over half of the participants recognized the term \"glaucoma,\" fewer than one in seven understood key aspects of the disease. This suggests that awareness campaigns alone are not enough. Education must move beyond name recognition to address the asymptomatic nature of early disease, the irreversibility of vision loss, and established risk factors. The lack of association between previous eye examinations and knowledge levels suggests that clinical visits are not being used adequately to educate patients. Training ophthalmologists and primary care physicians to routinely discuss glaucoma during consultations may improve population knowledge. Knowledge gaps were largest among older adults, rural residents, and unemployed individuals. These groups also face higher glaucoma risk. Prevention strategies should focus on reaching these populations through community health workers, integration into primary care services, and mobile screening programs.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe study had several strengths. The large sample size (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;741) gave adequate statistical power to find associations between demographic factors and knowledge. The eight-item knowledge assessment covered multiple aspects of glaucoma (pathophysiology, symptoms, outcomes, and risk factors), allowing us to identify specific gaps. Including both urban and rural participants across different age groups and educational levels makes the findings more generalizable to the Palestinian population.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, several limitations should be noted. Self-reported data on chronic disease and eye examination history may be inaccurate. The online survey format likely reached more educated, health-conscious individuals, potentially overestimating population knowledge. The binary scoring (correct/incorrect) may have missed a partial understanding.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study highlights substantial gaps in public knowledge and awareness of glaucoma in Palestine. While over half of participants had heard of glaucoma, only a small fraction possessed adequate knowledge regarding its asymptomatic progression, irreversibility, and risk factors. Prior awareness, younger age, higher education, urban residency, and student status were significantly associated with better knowledge. The findings indicate that awareness campaigns alone are insufficient; targeted educational interventions integrated into primary care and community programs are essential to improve early detection, screening uptake and ultimately reduce glaucoma-related blindness. Special attention should be given to older adults, rural residents, and those with lower educational levels to address health disparities in glaucoma awareness.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll procedures performed in this study involving human participants complied with the ethical standards of the Institutional Review Board Committee at Al-Quds University and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board Committee at Al-Quds University.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eClinical trial number:\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003enot applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eConsent for publication:\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manuscript contains no images or videos\u0026mdash;not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFunding:\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo funding sources are available.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMohammad W. Awlad Mohammad: Idea developer, primary mentor, conclusion and Abstract writing, and writing reviewer for all research(Basel Bader, Mohammad Fuad Sayes) discussion writing and questionnaire development Alhareth M. Amro: statistical analysisToqa W Awlad Mohammad: Introduction and methodology writing(Essa Hasheem, Mohammad Amro, Darwish M. Mosameh, Dania Amwas): data collection (Abdallah Qawasmeh, Farid k Abu Sham\u0026rsquo;a): final editor\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgements:\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNone.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaul RE, Augsburger JJ. Vaughan \u0026amp; Asbury\u0026rsquo;s General Ophthalmology 19e. 19th ed. New York N.Y: McGraw-Hill Education LLC. 2018. 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Int J Ophthalmol. 2021;14(6):887\u0026ndash;95. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.18240/ijo.2021.06.15\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.18240/ijo.2021.06.15\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlamri A, Bakri KA, Alqarni SM, Alosaimi MN, Alshehri EY, Alshahrani MS. Knowledge and awareness of glaucoma in a population of Abha, Southern Saudi Arabia. J family Med Prim care. 2022;11(10):6165\u0026ndash;9. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2346_20\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2346_20\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHaddad MF, Bakkar MM, Abdo N. Public awareness of common eye diseases in Jordan. BMC Ophthalmol. 2017;17(1):177. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-017-0575-3\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1186/s12886-017-0575-3\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBamefleh D, Alassaf OM, Algahtani ZM. Investigation of Knowledge, Awareness, and Practices of Glaucoma in Riyadh City. Saudi Arabia Cureus. 2024;16(1):e51700. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.51700\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.7759/cureus.51700\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTerheyden JH, Fink DJ, Mercieca K, Wintergerst MWM, Holz FG, Finger RP. Knowledge about age-related eye diseases in the general population in Germany. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):409. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17889-0\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1186/s12889-024-17889-0\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlemu DS, Gudeta AD, Gebreselassie KL. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma and associated factors among adults: a cross sectional study in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Ophthalmol. 2017;17(1):154. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-017-0542-z\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1186/s12886-017-0542-z\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDietze J, Blair K, Havens SJ. (2024). Glaucoma. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. NCBI Bookshelf. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538217/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538217/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAhmedhussain H, Badeeb NO, Madani F, Khawandanh LZ, Al-Abbas EA, Badeeb O. Awareness and Knowledge About Glaucoma in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A Population-Based Survey. Cureus. 2023;15(10):e47090. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.47090\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.7759/cureus.47090\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChander A, Chopra R, Batra N, Choudhrie D. (2015). Awareness of glaucoma amongst the rural and urban population of North India. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 5(8), 116\u0026ndash;121. Retrieved from \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://www.ijhsr.org/IJHSR_Vol.5_Issue.8_Aug2015/20.pdf\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://www.ijhsr.org/IJHSR_Vol.5_Issue.8_Aug2015/20.pdf\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"pubh","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Public Health](http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/pubh/default.aspx","title":"BMC Public Health","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Glaucoma, awareness, knowledge, attitudes, Palestine, public health, eye health","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8682885/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8682885/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally, often progressing asymptomatically until advanced stages. Awareness and knowledge of glaucoma are critical determinants of early diagnosis and treatment-seeking behavior. Data on glaucoma awareness in Palestine are scarce. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding glaucoma among the general Palestinian population and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with inadequate knowledge.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1 to December 30, 2025, using an online questionnaire distributed to adults (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;18 years) residing in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The questionnaire included sociodemographic information, glaucoma awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s alpha (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.87). Knowledge scores were calculated with a maximum of 8 points; good knowledge was defined as \u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;6 correct answers. Data were analyzed using SPSS v23, employing chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 741 participants completed the survey (50.2% male, 49.8% female). Overall, 54% had heard of glaucoma, but only 13.8% demonstrated good knowledge. Prior awareness of glaucoma was the strongest predictor of good knowledge (aOR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;7.89, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Knowledge gaps were notable regarding the asymptomatic nature of early disease (20.9%), irreversible vision loss (57%), and key risk factors including age\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;40 years (49%), family history (44.9%), and diabetes (55.1%). Older adults, rural residents, and individuals with lower educational levels had significantly lower knowledge scores. Only 26.9% of participants reported eye examinations within the preceding year, and screening intentions were associated with better knowledge (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.015).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusions\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAlthough awareness of glaucoma is moderate in Palestine, comprehensive knowledge remains low, particularly among high-risk populations. Public health interventions should target education beyond name recognition, emphasizing asymptomatic progression, irreversible vision loss, and risk factors. Integrating glaucoma education into clinical visits and community-based programs may improve early detection and prevent blindness.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness of Glaucoma among the General Population in Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-02-09 07:10:37","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8682885/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-07T16:36:26+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-05T16:15:03+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"291549776908524424485903371657989384843","date":"2026-02-14T15:52:27+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"205300734360246325904534034142446689583","date":"2026-02-14T06:52:39+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"163651692384270781185426097715012539339","date":"2026-02-03T09:16:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-02-03T08:17:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-02-03T08:13:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2026-01-30T14:24:54+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-01-30T13:44:46+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Public Health","date":"2026-01-30T12:55:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"pubh","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Public Health](http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/pubh/default.aspx","title":"BMC Public Health","twitterHandle":"@BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"c6f011b5-7292-4dae-afd6-f78096359cc0","owner":[],"postedDate":"February 9th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-09T07:10:40+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-02-09 07:10:37","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8682885","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8682885","identity":"rs-8682885","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}