Table of Contents

Introduction …………………………………………………………….. 5
I.The Diabetes Epidemic …………………………………………………………. 5
II. Diabetic Retinopathy …………………………………………………………… 6
III. Prevention and Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy and the Role of Screening … 8
IV. Utilization of Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy ……………………………. 10
V. Purpose of Current Study ……………………………………………………… 12
Methods
I.Qualitative Methods and Their Utility ………………………………………… 14
II. Setting …………………………………………………………………………. 15
III. Participants ……………………………………………………………………. 16
IV. Participant Interviews …………………………………………………………. 16
V. Data Analysis ………………………………………………………………….. 17
Results …………………………………………………………………………………. 19
I.Participant Demographics ……………………………………………………… 19
II. Interview Comments …………………………………………………………… 20
a. Individual Factors ……………………………………………………… 21
b. Institutional and Structural Factors …………………………………….. 23
Discussion …………………………………………………………………………….. 27