Abstract
Purpose :
To explore parents’ experiences and preferences with dichoptic action video gaming or patching as amblyopia treatment. In addition, information needs from parents to support patient participation in clinical decision making was investigated.To explore parents’ experiences and preferences with dichoptic action video gaming or patching as amblyopia treatment. In addition, information needs from parents to support patient participation in clinical decision making was investigated.
Methods :
In a prospective Randomized Clinical Trial (NCT 03767985) newly diagnosed children with amblyopia were recruited. Visual Acuity (VA) was measured using the crowded tumbling E-chart. After informed consent they were randomized to patching therapy: 2 hrs/day; compliance was monitored electronically using the Occlusion Dose Monitor; or dichoptic video game therapy using VR goggles: 1 hr/wk under direct supervision. Following completion, a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was carried out. The parents of children who fulfilled their 6 weeks follow-up measurement were eligible for participation. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s approach.
Results :
So far, parents of 10 children have been interviewed. Three themes have emerged from the data in both the patching and gaming group: 1) misunderstanding the diagnosis of amblyopia and its treatment, 2) the need to establish a routine and 3) the influence of the child’s age in explaining the need for treatment and child’s participation with treatment. In the gaming group, parents reported the feeling of not being responsible for carrying out treatment themselves as a positive element. In the patching group parents experienced the treatment as flexible and easy to understand.
Conclusions :
Despite the differences, parents described the efficiency and the effect of treatment as the most important aspects in choosing the sort of amblyopia treatment. However, they preferred to leave the choice of treatment to the professional.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.