Retinopathy of Prematurity as Multidisciplinary Approach, a Pediatricians Standpoint, and Practice

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and Work-Related Characteristics of the Participants (n=41)

	Frequency	Percentage
Age in years
25–40	20	48.8
>40	21	51.2
Gender
Male	18	43.9
Female	23	56.1
Educational qualification
Resident	12	29.2
Specialist	20	48.8
Consultant	9	22.0
Experience in practice (years)
<5	14	34.1
5–10	6	14.6
>10	21	51.3
Place of practice
King Fahad Specialist hospital	2	4.9
King Khalid hospital	13	31.7
Child and Maternity hospital	12	29.3
King Salman Military hospital	14	34.1
The average frequency of preterm infants seen/month
0–5	7	17.1
6–10	8	19.5
11–15	9	22.0
>15	17	41.4

Table 2 The Responses of the Participants to the Knowledge Questions Regarding Retinopathy of Prematurity^a

Knowledge Questions	Right Answer
	Response	No.	%
Which birth weight do you think is the screening criteria for ROP?	1500 gram or less	30	73.2
Which gestational age do you think is the screening criteria for ROP?	32 weeks or less	10	24.4
At what age do you refer an infant with ROP to an ophthalmologist?	32 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) or 4 weeks chronological age, whichever is later.	29	70.7
Name the safe dilatation drops for preterm infants	Phenylephrine or tropicamide	12	29.3
Which part/s of the eye is/are affected by ROP?	Retina	37	90.2
What are the important treatment modalities available for ROP?	Depend on stages and zones and may include observation, cryotherapy, laser, intravitreal injection, or surgical intervention	38	92.7
When should one initiate treatment after diagnosis of sight-threatening ROP?	It is an ocular emergency, so as soon as possible, no more than 72 h	36	87.8
Complications of untreated ROP may include	-Neovascularization of retina	19	46.3
	-Retinal detachment	33	80.5
	-Vitreous hemorrhage	7	17.1
	-Blindness	18	43.9
Complications of ROP treatment may include	Myopia	5	12.2

Notes: ^aTo assess the knowledge level among the participants, we created a scoring system with a total of 12 points, depending on the nine knowledge questions; one point for each question, except for question #8 which has four correct options where the participants are given the option to choose more than one answer.

Abbreviations: ROP, retinopathy of prematurity; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit.

Figure 1 The overall knowledge score regarding retinopathy of prematurity among pediatricians.