Knowledge, attitude, and practice of parents of 3- to 5-year-olds regarding preschool vision and eye screening of kindergarten children in Al-Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia-a survey.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the level and determinants of knowledge, attitude, and practice for eye and vision screening of preschool children among parents in Al-Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Parents of kindergartners were surveyed in 2023. Questions relating to knowledge (10), attitude (5), and practice (5) of vision screening were asked. Answers were graded on a five-point Likert scale, where 1 indicates strong disagreement and 5 indicates strong agreement; results were analyzed with regard to family demographics and child refractive status.

Results: A total of 214 parents were surveyed, representing 214 households. Level of knowledge was good or very good in 66.2%, attitude was positive in 41%, and practice was acceptable in 72.2% of respondents. The median knowledge score was 4.0 (IQR, 3.5-4.0), median attitude score was 3.0 (IQR, 3.0-4.0), and median practice score was 4.0 (IQR, 3.0-4.0). Education and family income were associated with practice scores (P <0.001 [Kruskal-Wallis H test]). Refractive error status of the father was significantly associated with a positive attitude toward eye and vision screening of preschool children (P = 0.015 [Kruskal-Wallis]). Main sources of knowledge included ophthalmologists (49.5%), social media (16.4%), Google search (10.7%), and optometrists (10.7%); preferred sources of knowledge were ophthalmologists (60.3%) and optometrists (22.4%). Social media, computers, primary health care center staff, and opticians were less desired sources of information.

Conclusions: Parental knowledge on eye and vision screening for children in Al-Qassim Province has room to improve, and negative attitudes must be addressed. Practice for eye care in preschoolers was promising for adoption of universal preschool vision initiatives.