RESUMO
Background: The aim of the study is to estimate the level of knowledge about retinoblastoma (Rb) and its determinants among non-ophthalmic health professionals of Qassim region of Saudi Arabia.Methods: This cross-sectional survey was held in 2016 in primary health centres (PHC) and general hospitals in the study area. In addition to demography like age, gender, education, place of work, participants replied to five questions related to Rb with close-ended questions to respond. They were matched to the expert group's answers to estimate the level of knowledge.Results: One hundred and fifty-two non-ophthalmic doctors participated in the survey. The excellent grade of knowledge of Rb was in 66 [43.3% (95% confidence interval 35.5-51.3)] of participants. Very poor level of knowledge was noted in 13 [8.6% (95% CI 4.1-13.0)] participants. Male gender (P = 0.02) and physician category (P = 0.02) were significantly associated with the excellent grade of Rb related knowledge. The participant’s response by type of questions varied significantly (P<0.001).Conclusions: More than half of the non-ophthalmic health professionals had less than desired knowledge about Rb. Health education about Rb to health professionals could be gender sensitive and based on the type of profession. Increasing the awareness about retinoblastoma among non-ophthalmic health professional is important.
RESUMO
Amblyopia should be treated in early ages to have better outcomes. Stimulation of suppressed eye and depriving light stimulus to the good eye is the main principal of the amblyopia treatment. Adherence to the patching for the treatment of amblyopia in children remains challenging. This could be due to poor cooperation of child or ill-fitting patch. Younger children can be motivated to mimic cartoon figures to improve their adherence to patching. Amblyopia treatment is a team work of parents and optometrist who not only select the mode of management but improve the acceptance of child for patching. We present a child with mild anisometropia and hypermetropia-induced esotropia and amblyopia who was non-compliant to patching. An innovative idea by the parents using a Ninja Turtle patch on the prescribed spectacle was very well accepted by the child and both esotropia and amblyopia improved within four months of the patching treatment. The vision in the affected eye improved from 20/200 to 20/20 with refractive error correction and patching. We share this low-cost child-friendly patching technique that parents invented that can be used to improve adherence to patching by young children during amblyopia therapy. This parent’s innovation enabled to improve adherence and thus address amblyopia in patched eye and regain vision.