Objective: To assess the influence of feedforward control-based health education intervention on the compliance, visual function
and self-perceived burden (SPB) among patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Eighty-six DR patients were divided into feedforward control and control groups (n=43). The control group was
given routine nursing intervention, based on which the feedforward control group received feedforward control-based health
education intervention. The health behavior indices were compared after intervention. The correlations of QOL score with SPB
score and health behavior indices were analysed using Pearson’s and Spearman’s coefficients.

Results: After intervention, the total QOL score and scores of symptoms and visual function, physical function, social activity,
and mentality and psychology were significantly improved compared with those before intervention, which were significantly
higher in the feedforward control group (P<0.05). SPB score was significantly lower in the two groups after intervention than
that before intervention, particularly in the feedforward control group (P<0.05). The QOL score of DR patients was significantly
negatively correlated with SPB score but positively correlated with health behavior indices (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The feedforward control-based health education intervention mode is beneficial for guiding DR patients to promote
visual function recovery and to reduce SPB.

Keywords: Correlation; diabetic retinopathy; feedforward control; health education; self-perceived burden; visual function.