Evaluation of family physicians' knowledge, awareness, attitudes, behaviors and practice patterns regarding neonatal vision screening

PURPOSE: Eye examination and vision screening are an important part of screening programs, which are recommended for infants and children in family medicine practice. In the present study, it was aimed to assess the demographic features, working status, knowledge levels, awareness, attitudes, behaviors, and practice patterns of family physicians regarding neonatal vision screening.
METHODS: The link to the questionnaire, consisted of 27 items pertaining to the demographic features, working status, knowledge levels, awareness, attitudes, behaviors and practice patterns of family physicians regarding neonatal vision screening was sent through WhatsApp to family medicine specialists and general practitioner family physicians working in Community Health and Family Health Centers across Turkey, family medicine specialists working in public/university hospitals, and family medicine medical residency students.
RESULTS: Among 104 physicians, 55.8% performed neonatal vision screening while 44.2% did not. Ninety (86.5%) physicians reported that they evaluate infants through inspection, 66 (63.5%) obtain a medical history, 71 (68.3%) assess the blink reflex, fixation, and follow-up, and 57 (54.8%) perform the red reflex test. Forty-seven physicians (45.2%) who reported that they do not perform the red reflex test indicated that the most common reason was a lack of necessary equipment and experience, cited by 20 physicians (42.5%). All steps of the vision screening were performed by trained physicians at higher rates than untrained physicians, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Although awareness of neonatal vision screening exists among family physicians in Turkey, actual practice varies significantly due to structural, educational, and logistical barriers. Targeted training, improved access to diagnostic tools, integration of structured referral pathways, and collaboration between primary and tertiary care is essential to ensure effective implementation of the vision screening.

Keywords: Congenital cataract, Family medicine, Newborn, Red reflex test, Retinoblastoma, Vision screening program