Chinese parents' knowledge, attitude, and practice of myopia control: 2023 update

Abstract

Background: Our previous survey identified a lack of knowledge of myopia among Chinese parents. This research aims to update the characteristics of parents' knowledge, attitude, and practice in myopia control.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was disseminated to parents of myopic children in 16 hospitals from 11 provinces in China. Comprehensive information regarding the knowledge, attitude, and practice in myopia of parents with myopic children was collected, with the underlying correlations being analyzed.

Results: A total of 1266 valid questionnaires were collected. The concern over children's visual problems arose significantly earlier among myopic parents (P < 0.001). Axial length was recorded by 29.9% (378/1266) of the participants. Parents' primary goal of myopia control was "retarding the progression of myopia" (64.8%, 821/1266). The effectiveness of behavioral intervention was ranked first by 68.4% (866/1266) of the participants. Single-vision spectacles were the most adopted correction practice (26.1%, 331/1266). In terms of myopic interventions, 23.5% (297/1266) of the parents chose myopic control spectacles, followed by orthokeratology (20.9%, 264/1266); 37.3% (189/507) of the participants believed that the latter was more effective. Most parents (69.8%, 883/1266) expressed satisfaction with the current efficacy of myopia control.

Conclusion: Insufficient awareness of myopia and myopia control was identified among parents of myopic children in China. Efforts should be made to enhance parents' knowledge, raise their awareness, and improve the accessibility and affordability of effective myopia control interventions.

Keywords: Attitude; Knowledge; Myopia control; Practice; Survey.

Fig. 1

Parents’ knowledge about myopia. (A) Parents’ knowledge about the risk of myopia. Total respondents: n = 1266. The number of respondents selecting each option: “Inconvenience” (n = 1128); “Influence on Education or Career” (n = 936); “Induces Other Ocular Pathologies” (n = 936); “Heredity” (n = 534); “Psychological Effect” (n = 439); “No Need to Worry” (n = 18). (B) Parents’ knowledge about the ocular complications of myopia among parents who believed that myopia can induce other ocular pathologies. Total respondents: n = 936. The number of respondents selecting each option: “Strabismus” (n = 537); “Cataract” (n = 386); “Glaucoma” (n = 461); “Fundus Diseases” (n = 771); “Amblyopia” (n = 526); “Others” (n = 17)

Fig. 2

The correlation between family history of myopia and parents’ initial concern on children’s visual problems (A), children’s age at diagnosis (B) and the reason for concern (C). Multinomial logistics regression was used to analyze the correlation

Fig. 3

The adoption rate of myopic interventions. Total respondents: n = 1266. The number of respondents selecting each option: “More Time Outdoors” (n = 1086); “Correcting Ill Habits of Eye Care” (n = 993); “Single Vision Spectacle” (n = 331); “Myopic Control Spectacles” (n = 297); “Orthokeratology” (n = 264); “Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact Lens” (n = 50); “Low − Dose Atropine” (n = 228); “High − Dose Atropine” (n = 22); “Combination Therapy” (n = 95)

Fig. 4

The correlation between parents’ satisfaction with current myopia control effect and children’s myopic progression, follow-up frequency and the average annual expenditure. Multinomial logistics regression was used to analyze the correlation