AIM: To analyze the awareness of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)among parents of ROP patients in Northern China.

METHODS:A questionnaire was given to 230 parents of ROP infants and collected in person between Jan. and Apr. 2013. Basic information on the ROP infants and the parents' awareness of ROP were collected from the parents.

RESULTS:In all, 221/230(96.1%)questionnaires were returned. Based on these completed responses, 128(57.9%)premature infants received screening during hospital stays, 208(94.1%)parents were informed about screening and received a recommendation for screening by pediatricians, and 13(5.9%)parents did not receive any recommendation for screening. Only 159(71.9%)parents were aware of ROP, while 62(28.1%)were not aware of the disease. Because stages 4 and 5 of ROP had a poor prognosis, we determined whether parents were informed by pediatricians closely associated with the severity of ROP(P<0.001). However, we found no association between the grade of hospital and whether the parents were informed(P=0.625).

CONCLUSION:Awareness of ROP among parents and pediatricians in Northern China still needs to be improved. Better and more timely communication and education of parents regarding ROP from pediatricians and ophthalmologists will help.