Caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward pediatric dry eye disease: a cross-sectional study.
Caregivers have inadequate knowledge about pediatric dry eye disease
Caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward pediatric dry eye disease: a cross-sectional study.
This study aimed to investigate caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning pediatric dry eye disease.
This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Pediatric Ophthalmology Outpatient Department of Yuxi People's Hospital between December 2023 and April 2024.
Of these, 393 respondents (76.31%) were mothers of the children, and 319 children (61.94%) had suffered from dry eye for less than three months.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were significantly correlated with each other (all P < 0.001).
Mediation analysis showed that knowledge (β = 0.19, P < 0.001), income (β = 0.75, P < 0.001), and marital status (β = 1.63, P = 0.001) were statistically associated with attitude.
Meanwhile, knowledge (β = 0.51, P < 0.001), attitude (β = 0.55, P < 0.001), and residence (β = 1.51, P < 0.001) were statistically associated with practice.
This study revealed that caregivers exhibit inadequate knowledge but generally positive attitudes and moderately adequate yet inconsistent practices towards pediatric dry eye disease.
The findings suggest that targeted educational programs may help address caregivers' knowledge gaps and support more appropriate management practices for pediatric dry eye disease.