Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39400622›Full record

ArticleInternational ophthalmology2024

An international survey on retinopathy of prematurity practice patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons for future management.

Rachel Shemesh, Michael Chiang, R V Paul Chan, Faruk Orge, Jason C Yam, Sonal Farzavandi, Derek Sprunger, Eedy Mezer, Tamara Wygnanski-Jafee

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in International ophthalmology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Rachel ShemeshFaculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9572-4623
Michael ChiangNational Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA.
R V Paul ChanDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA.
Faruk OrgeDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Jason C YamDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Sonal FarzavandiSingapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
Derek SprungerIndiana University School of Medicine, Indiana, USA.
Eedy Mezer *Department of Ophthalmology, Ruth Rappaport Children's Hospital, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2818-7538
Tamara Wygnanski-Jafee *Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Tamara.Wygnanski@sheba.health.gov.il.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9737-7821

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo assess retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) practice patterns during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

methodsA survey on ROP practice patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic was sent to the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives, the International Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Council members, and to various national societies on May 19, 2020. The survey closed on the 31st of June 2020.

resultsTwo hundred ninety-two ophthalmologists from 41 countries responded to the survey. Most replies originated in Asia (48%) and North America (38%). During the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 period, respondents reported a reduction of 15% in the number of NICU inpatients and 19.8% of the ROP outpatients' follow-up visits. The number of ROP outpatients' follow-up visits and inpatients' exams was significantly greater in North America than in Asia (72.0% versus 37.2% and 87.8% versus 49.6%, respectively, P < 0.001). Only 14% of the ophthalmologists adopted new screening guidelines, and 7.2% reported changing their preferred treatment. In 50% of responders, laser photocoagulation was the preferred treatment. A significantly higher percentage of ophthalmologists reported using telemedicine during the pandemic, 29.8% (n = 85/285), and 15.6% (44/282) prior to the pandemic (χ2 = 15.51, p < 0.001).

conclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer ROP screening and follow-up visits were conducted on premature infants; these findings were especially prominent among physicians in Asia. Telemedicine usage increased during the pandemic. This study highlights the need to maintain screening protocols for ROP during pandemics. The utility of technological measures could enable this, along with adequate prevention of physical contact.

Indexed as

COVID-19Practice Patterns, Physicians'Retinopathy of PrematuritySARS-CoV-2Disease ManagementHumansInfant, NewbornLaser CoagulationOphthalmologistsOphthalmologyPandemicsSurveys and QuestionnairesTelemedicineCOVID-19 pandemicRetinal photographyRetinopathy of prematurityTelemedicineTreatment modality

Identifiers

PMID39400622
PMCPMC11473615

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.