Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Parental perceptions toward digital imaging and telemedicine for retinopathy of prematurity management
Joo-Yeon Lee1, Yunling E Du, Osode Coki
1Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 635 West 165th Street, Box 92, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Insights
Parents view digital imaging and telemedicine positively for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) care. While supportive of technology, they still prefer some face-to-face interaction with doctors.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Telemedicine presents a novel approach to enhance healthcare delivery for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
- This research investigates parental perspectives on utilizing digital imaging and telemedicine for ROP management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate parental perceptions of digital imaging for ROP.
- To assess parental attitudes towards telemedicine in ROP care.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire assessing perceptions of digital retinal imaging and telemedicine for ROP was administered to parents of infants.
- Data were collected over one year using a 5-point Likert-type scale, with construct validity examined via factor analysis.
Main Results:
- Factor analysis revealed strong internal consistency for digital imaging (Cronbach's alpha = 0.843) and moderate consistency for telemedicine (Cronbach's alpha = 0.631).
- Parents highly agreed that digital ROP images should be in medical records (4.4/5) but showed lower confidence in technology reliability (3.8/5).
- Parents believed technology would improve care quality (4.3/5) but worried about impacting the patient-physician relationship (2.6/5).
Conclusions:
- Parents generally hold favorable views regarding telemedical diagnosis of ROP.
- Despite positive perceptions, a preference for in-person consultations persists among parents.
- Telemedicine may significantly influence the dynamics of the patient-physician relationship in ROP care.
Background:
Telemedicine is an emerging technology with potential to improve care for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This study evaluates parental perceptions about digital imaging and telemedicine for ROP care.
Methods:
During a 1-year period, one parent of each infant who underwent wide-field retinal imaging for ROP was given a questionnaire designed to evaluate parental perceptions using a 5-point Likert-type scale. Five items assessed perceptions toward digital retinal imaging, and ten items assessed attitudes toward telemedicine. Construct validity of the questionnaire was examined using factor analysis. Responses were summarized using descriptive and correlational statistics.
Results:
Forty-two parents participated. Factor analysis extracted two factors explaining 79% of the total variance in digital retinal imaging items (Cronbach's alpha = 0.843), and three factors explaining 63% of the total variance in telemedicine items (Cronbach's alpha = 0.631). Among digital imaging items, the highest mean (+/-SD) score was for "digital pictures of my child's retinopathy should be included in the permanent medical record" (4.4 +/- 0.6), and the lowest was for "digital cameras and computers are reliable" (3.8 +/- 0.8). Among telemedicine items, the highest mean (+/-SD) score was for "technology will improve the quality of medical care for my child" (4.3 +/- 0.6), and the lowest was for "technology will make it harder for a patient and doctor to establish a good relationship" (2.6 +/- 1.1).
Conclusions:
Parents reported positive perceptions about telemedical ROP diagnosis, but expressed some preference for face-to-face care. Telemedicine has potential to alter the nature of the patient-physician relationship.
