Retinopathy of prematurity: Improving parental awareness and perceived importance of follow-up eye exams using an informative pamphlet (Interim Report). Issue 5 (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Daftarian, Soheil; Lin, Pamela; Mitchell, Kelly
• Is Part Of: Journal of neonatal nursing. Volume 22:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 228
• Page End: 230
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Retinopathy of prematurity -- Preterm infants -- Neonatal intensive care unit -- Parents -- Education -- Pamphlet -- Screening -- Follow-up -- Compliance -- Ophthalmology; Newborn infants -- Care -- Periodicals; Newborn infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neonatal intensive care -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers en néonatologie -- Périodiques; Infant, Newborn, Diseases -- Periodicals; Intensive Care, Neonatal -- Periodicals; Neonatal Nursing -- Periodicals; 618.9200231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnn.2016.03.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-1841

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) to prevent blindness depends on timely eye exams of at-risk infants. Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of a user-friendly pamphlet in improving parents' perceived importance of and ultimate adherence to ROP screening guidelines. Methods: A pamphlet on ROP was provided to parents of at-risk infants. Before and after reading the pamphlet, the parents were evaluated on their knowledge of ROP and their perception of the importance of timely follow-up screening. Results: Before and after pamphlet exposure, the knowledge of ROP essentially stayed the same for all parents. Before pamphlet exposure, a couple of parents chose lower than "Extremely Important" for perceived importance of follow-up eye exams. After pamphlet exposure, all parents chose "Extremely Important" for importance of follow-up. Conclusion: Providing a user-friendly pamphlet on ROP to parents of preterm infants could increase the perceived importance of timely follow-up eye exams, thus reducing the rate of potentially preventable blindness.