Related Experiment Videos
[In paediatric ophthalmology there is no preferred timing for retinoscopy]
1Abteilung für Strabologie und Neuroophthalmologie, Kantonsspital, St. Gallen, Germany. daniel.mojon@kssg.ch
Insights
For pediatric eye exams, performing retinoscopy immediately after an orthoptic examination or during a separate visit makes no difference to parents or examiners. Patient satisfaction hinges on healthcare professional interaction and wait times.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Clinical Practice
Background:
- Retinoscopy timing in pediatric ophthalmology is debated, with options including immediate post-orthoptic examination or a separate ambulatory visit.
- No prior studies have compared parent and examiner preferences for these retinoscopy timing protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the preferred timing of retinoscopy (immediate vs. separate visit) in pediatric ophthalmology.
- To assess the satisfaction of accompanying persons and examiners regarding retinoscopy timing.
Main Methods:
- A randomized study involving 32 children under 16 undergoing retinoscopy.
- Participants were assigned to either immediate or separate visit retinoscopy.
- Accompanying persons and examiners completed validated questionnaires; data analyzed via cluster analysis.
Main Results:
- 84% of accompanying persons returned questionnaires.
- Retinoscopy timing showed no association with other variables.
- Accompanying persons' recommendation of the department correlated strongly with their perception of medical/orthoptic examinations and waiting times.
Conclusions:
- No significant difference in preference or satisfaction exists between immediate and separate visit retinoscopy for accompanying persons or examiners.
- Accompanying persons' satisfaction is influenced by healthcare professional interaction and waiting times, consistent with general ambulatory patient satisfaction literature.
Background:
In paediatric ophthalmology retinoscopy may be performed immediately after an orthoptic examination or during an additional ambulatory visit. So far, no studies have been performed to investigate which of both procedures is preferred by the persons accompanying or examining the children.
Patients And Methods:
32 consecutive children under the age of 16 were randomly assigned to have retinoscopy immediately after the orthoptic examination or during an additional visit. Children coming from far away or needing a cycloplegia with atropine were excluded from this study. The accompanying persons and the examiners (orthopedist/physician) were interviewed using a validated, written questionnaire. Associations between answers were determined via a cluster analysis.
Results:
84 % (28/32) of all accompanying persons returned the questionnaire. The timing of retinoscopy was not associated with other variables. The question "Would you recommend our Department?" was strongly associated with how the accompanying persons judged the medical and orthoptic examination and also with the waiting times.
Conclusions:
There is no difference for the accompanying persons and the examiners if retinoscopy is performed immediately after an orthoptic examination or during an additional visit. As reported in the literature about patient satisfaction in an ambulatory setting, we found that the satisfaction of the accompanying persons correlated with the interaction between health professionals and the persons accompanying the children, as well as with the waiting times.