A Survey on the Perceptions of Guardians of Pediatric Oculoplastic Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This survey was performed to gather information about the guardians of pediatric oculoplastic patients undergoing certain medical care services in order to recommend improvements in these services. METHODS: Questionnaires were distributed to guardians of pediatric oculoplastic patients who were admitted for operations to correct epiblepharon and ptosis. Completed questionnaires, which numberd 100, were then analyzed. RESULTS: The results of this survey show that most guardians were the parents of the patient; most had a level of education higher than or equal to junior college graduation; and most were middle-class. The parents themselves had discovered their children's disease and had a great influence on the decision to operate. Most parents took an optimistic view of the results of the operation. The higher the guardians' economic status, the more likely he or she believed that both an ophthalmic and a plastic surgeon could perform oculoplastic operations. Many guardians chose an ophthalmic clinic over a plastic surgery clinic because the likelihood of a satisfactory result is higher and because these diseases are related to visual acuity. Half of the guardians knew that there is an oculoplastic clinic at the department of ophthalmology, and many of them gathered information about oculoplastic surgery from the internet. CONCLUSIONS: Better explanations about oculoplastic diseases and more education about these diseases should be available to the guardians of patients with these diseases. Systematic publicity for the field of oculoplastic surgery is needed urgently, and the availability of accurate information and specialized medical counseling about these diseases on the internet should be increased.