Abstract
Purpose
To emphasize the demographic and occupational characteristics of ophthalmologists primarily involved in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) care and to ascertain their practices and preferences.
Methods
A questionnaire was sent to all Turkish ophthalmologists known to be primarily involved in ROP. They were asked about personal and occupational characteristics, practices and preferences related to ROP care, and for their proposals related to ROP training.
Results
Seventy questionnaires were sent, of which 63 (90%) were returned. A total of 44 respondents reported performing laser and 13 vitreoretinal surgery. Preferred treatment was transpupillary laser photocoagulation (54.5%), mostly performed in the operating theater (84.1%) under general anesthesia (72.7%). Only 19 (30.2%) reported intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF). Ophthalmologists from university hospitals, trained in retina during fellowship, and performing treatment for ROP more commonly performed anti-VEGF injection. Most of them studied ROP after residency and 76.2% think that ROP training during residency is inadequate for clinical practice.
Conclusions
This survey reveals considerable variation among Turkish ROP specialists regarding ROP care. The survey data are critical in order to develop quality improvement and help in planning more effective future programs for ROP care in terms of training.
Keywords
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