title: Retinopathy of prematurity: a nationwide survey to evaluate current practices and preferences of ophthalmologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To emphasize the demographic and occupational characteristics of ophthalmologists primarily involved in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) care and to ascertain their practices and preferences.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was sent to all Turkish ophthalmologists known to be primarily involved in ROP. They were asked about personal and occupational characteristics, practices and preferences related to ROP care, and for their proposals related to ROP training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy questionnaires were sent, of which 63 (90%) were returned. A total of 44 respondents reported performing laser and 13 vitreoretinal surgery. Preferred treatment was transpupillary laser photocoagulation (54.5%), mostly performed in the operating theater (84.1%) under general anesthesia (72.7%). Only 19 (30.2%) reported intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (anti-VEGF). Ophthalmologists from university hospitals, trained in retina during fellowship, and performing treatment for ROP more commonly performed anti-VEGF injection. Most of them studied ROP after residency and 76.2% think that ROP training during residency is inadequate for clinical practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey reveals considerable variation among Turkish ROP specialists regarding ROP care. The survey data are critical in order to develop quality improvement and help in planning more effective future programs for ROP care in terms of training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Maternity and Women's Health Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. msekeroglu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sekeroglu
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hekimoglu
authors.forename: Hande Taylan
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Sekeroglu
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors