Compliance with Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Guidelines Among General Practitioners in Ibadan

Timely detection of diabetic retinopathy requires systematic screening, which is often the responsibility of general practitioners who manage diabetic patients at primary and secondary care levels. This study evaluates the level of compliance with diabetic retinopathy screening guidelines among general practitioners attending to diabetic patients in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design will be employed, targeting 120 general practitioners from 20 public and private health facilities. A validated questionnaire adapted from national and international diabetic retinopathy guidelines will assess practitioners' knowledge of screening protocols, frequency of ocular referrals, documentation practices, and perceived barriers to compliance. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The study anticipates that fewer than half of the practitioners will adhere fully to recommended screening intervals, with lack of awareness and absence of systematic referral protocols as primary barriers. Findings will be submitted to the Oyo State Ministry of Health and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to support continuing medical education programs emphasizing diabetic retinopathy screening. This research contributes to the evidence base for system-level interventions in diabetic eye care within Nigeria's South West zone and advances the case for structured eye care integration in diabetes management programs. Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, screening compliance, general practitioners, Ibadan, diabetes guidelines