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Research article
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Ethiopian Pediatricians concerning Childhood Eye Diseases
Tolosa Tufa Regassa
Jimma University College of Public Health and Medical Sciences
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5990-4088
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Eye examination and vision assessment are vital for the detection of conditions that result in blindness. Childhood blindness seriously impacts the development, education, and future employment opportunities of affected children. Pediatricians’ knowledge of eye diseases is critical for the prevention of blindness through early diagnosis, allowing proper treatment and identification of conditions requiring referral to an ophthalmologist to preserve or restore vision. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Ethiopian pediatricians concerning childhood eye diseases.
Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study of pediatricians working in various hospitals and clinics in Ethiopia. Participants were selected via a convenient sampling technique. Data were collected using both closed and open-ended semi-structured questionnaires. Responses were entered into EpiData 3.1 and transferred to SPSS version 21.0 software for analysis.
Results: A total of 79 pediatricians participated in the study. Our findings showed that the attitude of all but 2 participants towards improving the management of childhood eye diseases was positive, even though this was not reflected in actual knowledge or practice. Even though attitudes were positive, knowledge was often poor and practice inadequate owing to barriers such as inadequate undergraduate training, lack of ophthalmology options during pediatric residency, and unavailability of ophthalmic equipment.
Conclusions: Participants’ attitudes towards improving treatment for childhood eye diseases are positive, but their insufficient knowledge of eye diseases makes their practice poor in this respect.
Keywords
Knowledge, attitude, practice, childhood blindness, pediatrician, Jimma, Ethiopia.
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- Questionnaire.pdf
Appendix: Questionnaires
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Ophthalmology. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Ethiopian Pediatricians concerning Childhood Eye Diseases
Tolosa Tufa Regassa
Jimma University College of Public Health and Medical Sciences
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5990-4088
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Revision
Version 4
Posted 14 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 05 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 04 Jan, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 04 Jan, 2021
Editor invited
On 04 Jan, 2021
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 03 Jan, 2021
Editor assigned
On 21 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 21 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 21 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 08 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 07 Dec, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 07 Dec, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 06 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 02 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 02 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 02 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 01 Nov, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 29 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 05 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 15 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 15 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 07 Jun, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 07 Jun, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 06 Jun, 2020
Editor invited
On 06 Jun, 2020
First submitted
On 28 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Ophthalmology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Eye examination and vision assessment are vital for the detection of conditions that result in blindness. Childhood blindness seriously impacts the development, education, and future employment opportunities of affected children. Pediatricians’ knowledge of eye diseases is critical for the prevention of blindness through early diagnosis, allowing proper treatment and identification of conditions requiring referral to an ophthalmologist to preserve or restore vision. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Ethiopian pediatricians concerning childhood eye diseases.
Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study of pediatricians working in various hospitals and clinics in Ethiopia. Participants were selected via a convenient sampling technique. Data were collected using both closed and open-ended semi-structured questionnaires. Responses were entered into EpiData 3.1 and transferred to SPSS version 21.0 software for analysis.
Results: A total of 79 pediatricians participated in the study. Our findings showed that the attitude of all but 2 participants towards improving the management of childhood eye diseases was positive, even though this was not reflected in actual knowledge or practice. Even though attitudes were positive, knowledge was often poor and practice inadequate owing to barriers such as inadequate undergraduate training, lack of ophthalmology options during pediatric residency, and unavailability of ophthalmic equipment.
Conclusions: Participants’ attitudes towards improving treatment for childhood eye diseases are positive, but their insufficient knowledge of eye diseases makes their practice poor in this respect.