A study to assess knowledge of retinopathy of prematurity amongst medical professionals in government medical college

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the level of awareness and knowledge about retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and its risk factors amongst medical professionals in Government Medical College. This study was conducted as a questionnaire based cross-sectional study amongst medical professionals working at tertiary care centreduring the study period of 1 year. The questionnaire administered and response sheets were collected prior to a talk on retinopathy of prematurity. Data was compiled using MsExcel whereas analysis was done by using IBM SPSS software version 20. Cutoff percentage for level of knowledge was kept as 80-100% as good knowledge, 60 to 79% as medium and 40 to 59% as low knowledge. ANOVA and t test was used and p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study included a total of 500 medical professionals. Mean knowledge score was significantly higher among residents i.e. 15.8±2.68 as compared to consultants, demonstrators and medical officers. Also, mean score were significantly higher among non-practicing participants (15±3.34) as compared to practicing participants (12.7±3.67) (p<0.01). In general, participants had a medium level of knowledge regarding retinopathy of prematurity. Most of the participants had a good knowledge of the term Retinopathy of Prematurity, the organ affected and the age group in which it occurs. Knowledge regarding age and centre for screening of ROP is poor. Postgraduate students had the maximum knowledge and medical officers (MBBS) had optimum knowledge of retinopathy of prematurity.