Patch Smart: An Interprofessional Initiative to Improve Amblyopia Treatment Adherence in Pediatric Patients

Background:
Amblyopia is the most common cause of preventable vision loss in children. Eye patching therapy is an effective treatment, but adherence remains a critical barrier, especially among families with limited health literacy or access to consistent education. Caregivers often report difficulty understanding treatment goals, struggling with daily routines, and receiving minimal hands-on support. To address this gap, this interprofessional quality improvement initiative involving pediatric ophthalmologists, orthoptists, and medical students aims to develop and implement a structured, family-centered patching education program. The goals of this initiative include improving caregiver understanding of amblyopia and patching therapy, increasing self-reported confidence among caregivers administering treatment, and enhancing interprofessional collaboration in patient education.

Design:
The initiative includes three components: (1) a visual, multilingual patching guide co-created with caregiver input, (2) a short instructional video, accessible within the guide, explaining amblyopia and patching techniques, and (3) orthoptist-led demonstrations during clinic visits using patching kits with pediatric-friendly designs. The intervention will be introduced at two pediatric ophthalmology clinics in Metro-Detroit. Caregivers are invited to complete pre- and post-intervention surveys assessing confidence, understanding, and perceived barriers. Orthoptists will document qualitative feedback during follow-up visits.

Results:
While formal data collection is ongoing, early caregiver feedback has been positive. Families highlighted the value of real-time demonstrations and simple, accessible language in printed and digitally accessible materials. Providers reported increased engagement during visits and more informed questions from caregivers. This may lead to improved coordination between ophthalmologists and orthoptists during patient education sessions, and is especially well-received by families with limited English proficiency.

Conclusion:
This interprofessional initiative aims to improve caregiver experience, promote treatment adherence, foster teamwork among providers, and reduce time spent on redundant counseling. The project is easily scalable and adaptable for use in other pediatric specialties where amblyopia screening is often first done.

Reflections/Lessons Learned:
Caregiver input is essential to creating materials that are both clear to understand and culturally relevant. As amblyopia experts, orthoptist involvement is key in delivering hands-on guidance in addition to an ophthalmology appointment. Future phases will include formal outcome tracking and expansion into more community-based care settings.

Fulfillment of Priority Criteria:
This project meaningfully engages caregivers' input into the creation of effective education materials, featuring collaboration between multiple professions (ophthalmologists, orthoptists, and medical students). It addresses barriers faced by underserved and non-English-speaking families, supporting patient-centered eye care and health equity.