scholarly journals Gender equity in eye health of Nepal: A hospital-based study

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
M K Shrestha ◽  
H Chan ◽  
R Gurung
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equity ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Surgical Care ◽  
Urban Hospital ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Eye Health ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: There is a lack of literature examining the impact of gender on access to eye care in developing countries. Objective: To assess the differences in access to eye care between females and males, in the urban hospital setting and in rural outreach clinics. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was designed to review the patients who sought eye care at a tertiary level eye care institute and its rural outreach clinics from 2006 to 2009 in Nepal. Data were retrieved from clinical records. Results: In the hospital, females accounted for 50.8% of patients receiving outpatient care and 48.3% of patients receiving surgical care. In rural outreach clinics, females accounted for 56.1% of clinic patients and 51.5% of patients undergoing surgery. Fewer girls than boys aged 0-14 years (44.3%) sought clinical care at the hospital. Conclusion: Females account for approximately half of the hospital eye care services in Nepal. More females seek care at rural outreach clinics than at the urban hospital. However, given the female burden of disease in Nepal, there is still much improvement to be made in this area of care.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v4i2.6544 Nepal J Ophthalmol 2012; 4 (2): 277-281

scholarly journals Eye Health, COVID-19, and the Occupational Health Professional: Round Table

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 352-358
Author(s):  
Susan Gallagher ◽  
Jay Clasing ◽  
Edward Hall ◽  
Stephanie Hammond ◽  
Gayle Howard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Professional ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Occupational Injury ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Round Table ◽  
Round Table Discussion ◽  
Eye Health ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health Risk Management

Background: Eye health has garnered increased attention since the COVID-19 pandemic. This Round Table explored the impact mask wearing, delays in eye examinations, and increased screen time have on vision and ultimately the worker. Methods: Leading experts in the areas of occupational health, risk management, eye health, and communication were identified and invited to participate in a Round Table discussion. Questions posed to experts were based on literature that addressed eye health, such as mask wearing, communication and managing expectations when accessing professional eye health appointments, and increased screen time. Findings: Experts agreed that eye health considerations must be in place. These considerations should address not only clinical care of the patient but ways to protect workers from occupational injury associated with the eye. Conclusion/Application to practice: The occupational health professional is a key resource for assessment and training that pertains to eye health.

scholarly journals An Online Training Intervention on Prehospital Stroke Codes in Catalonia to Improve the Knowledge, Pre-Notification Compliance and Time Performance of Emergency Medical Services Professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6183
Author(s):  
Montse Gorchs-Molist ◽  
Silvia Solà-Muñoz ◽  
Iago Enjo-Perez ◽  
Marisol Querol-Gil ◽  
David Carrera-Giraldo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Care ◽  
Arterial Occlusion ◽  
Online Training ◽  
Training Intervention ◽  
Stroke Severity ◽  
Early Therapy ◽  
Time Performance ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
The Impact

Strokes are a time-dependent medical emergency. The training of emergency medical service (EMS) professionals is essential to ensure the activation of stroke codes with pre-notification, as well as a rapid transfer to achieve early therapy. New assessment scales for the detection of patients with suspected large vessel occlusion ensures earlier access to endovascular therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on an online training intervention focused on the Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation (RACE) scoring of EMS professionals based on the prehospital stroke code in Catalonia from 2014 to 2018 in a pre–post intervention study. All Catalonian EMS professionals and the clinical records from primary stroke patients were included. The Kirkpatrick model guided the evaluation of the intervention. Data were collected on the knowledge on stroke recognition and management, pre-notification compliance, activated stroke codes and time performance of EMS professionals. Knowledge improved significatively in most items and across all categories, reaching a global achievement of 82%. Pre-notification compliance also improved significantly and remained high in the long-term. Increasingly higher notification of RACE scores were recorded from 60% at baseline to 96.3% in 2018, and increased on-site clinical care time and global time were also observed. Therefore, the online training intervention was effective for increasing EMS professionals’ knowledge and pre-notification compliance upon stroke code activation, and the wide adoption of a new prehospital scale for the assessment of stroke severity (i.e., the RACE scale) was achieved.

scholarly journals Strengths and weaknesses of eye care services in sub-Saharan Africa: a meta-synthesis of eye health system assessments

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stevens Bechange ◽  
Emma Jolley ◽  
Bhavisha Virendrakumar ◽  
Vladimir Pente ◽  
Juliet Milgate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Eye Health ◽  
Sub Saharan

The Impact of Knowledge and Attitudes on Access to Eye-Care Services in Cambodia

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 331-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail M. Ormsby ◽  
Anna-Lena Arnold ◽  
Lucy Busija ◽  
Manfred Mörchen ◽  
Te Serey Bonn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Care ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Impact

Prevalence of blindness and cataract surgical coverage in Narayani Zone, Nepal: a rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) study

2017 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangita Pradhan ◽  
Avnish Deshmukh ◽  
Puspa Giri Shrestha ◽  
Prajwal Basnet ◽  
Ram Prasad Kandel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
National Average ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Gender Inequity ◽  
Mobile Data ◽  
Mobile Data Collection ◽  
The Past ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundThe 1981 Nepal Blindness Survey first identified the Narayani Zone as one of the regions with the highest prevalence of blindness in the country. Subseuqently, a 2006 survey of the Rautahat District of the Narayani Zone found it to have the country’s highest blindness prevalence. This study examines the impact on blind avoidable and treatable eye conditions in this region after significant increase in eye care services in the past decade.MethodsThe rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) methodology was used with mobile data collection using the mRAAB smartphone app. Data analysis was done using the standard RAAB software. Based on the 2011 census, 100 clusters of 50 participants aged 50 years or older were randomly sampled proportional to population size.ResultsOf the 5000 participants surveyed, 4771 (95.4%) were examined. The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted prevalence of bilateral blindness, severe visual impairment (SVI) and moderate visual impairment (MVI) were 1.2% (95% CI 0.9% to 1.5%), 2.5% (95% CI 2.0% to -3.0%) and 13.2% (95% CI 11.8% to 14.5%), respectively. Cataract remains the primary cause of blindness and SVI despite cataract surgery coverage (CSC) of 91.5% for VA<3/60. Women still account for two-thirds of blindness.ConclusionThe prevalence of blindness in people over the age of 50 years has decreased from 6.9% in 2006 to 1.2%, a level in keeping with the national average; however, significant gender inequity persists. CSC has improved but continues to favour men.

scholarly journals Understanding the role of lady health workers in improving access to eye health services in rural Pakistan – findings from a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stevens Bechange ◽  
Elena Schmidt ◽  
Anna Ruddock ◽  
Itfaq Khaliq Khan ◽  
Munazza Gillani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Eye Health ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Background In 1994, the Lady Health Workers (LHWs) Programme was established in Pakistan to increase access to essential primary care services and support health systems at the household and community levels. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province in northern Pakistan, eye care is among the many unmet needs that LHWs were trained to address, including screening and referral of people with eye conditions to health facilities. However, despite an increase in referrals by LHWs, compliance with referrals in KPK has been very low. We explored the role of LHWs in patient referral and the barriers to patient compliance with referrals. Methods Qualitative methodology was adopted. Between April and June 2019, we conducted eight focus group discussions and nine in-depth interviews with 73 participants including patients, LHWs and their supervisors, district managers and other stakeholders. Data were analysed thematically using NVivo software version 12. Results LHWs have a broad understanding of basic health care and are responsible for a wide range of activities at the community level. LHWs felt that the training in primary eye care had equipped them with the skills to identify and refer eye patients. However, they reported that access to care was hampered when referred patients reached hospitals, where disorganised services and poor quality of care discouraged uptake of referrals. LHWs felt that this had a negative impact on their credibility and on the trust and respect they received from the community, which, coupled with low eye health awareness, influenced patients’ decisions about whether to comply with a referral. There was a lack of trust in the health care services provided by public sector hospitals. Poverty, deep-rooted gender inequities and transportation were the other reported main drivers of non-adherence to referrals. Conclusions Results from this study have shown that the training of LHWs in eye care was well received. However, training alone is not enough and does not result in improved access for patients to specialist services if other parts of the health system are not strengthened. Pathways for referrals should be agreed and explicitly communicated to both the health care providers and the patients.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Sexual Healthcare Provision in Tanzania: a Key Informant Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy R. Mgopa ◽  
Michael W. Ross ◽  
Gift Gadiel Lukumay ◽  
Stella Emmanuel Mushy ◽  
Ever Mkony ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Gender Equity ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Sexual Health Care ◽  
Care Services

Abstract Introduction Sexual health care services must be standard and unbiased, guided by a structured health care system. There is a scarcity of data on how sexual health care is delivered in Tanzania. Methods To address this gap, in July 2019 we interviewed eleven key informants: cultural and public health experts, and political, religious, and community leaders, selected from different organizations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants were asked for their opinions about clinical practices of health care professionals when providing care to patients, with an emphasis on sexual health. Results Participants’ responses were classified into three subcategories: strengths, barriers, and gaps in sexual health care. Availability of services, service delivery to adults, and code of conduct were among the strengths observed in clinical care services. Barriers included the health care provider’s attitudes, moral values, and inadequacy in health policies and treatment guidelines. Vulnerable populations including youth were frequently reported to face most challenges when seeking sexual health care services. In terms of gaps, informants emphasized gender equity in sexual health services provision within care settings. Conclusion and Implication Data indicate that lack of training in sexual health and guidelines for dealing with sexual issues are a barrier to comprehensive health care. These findings can inform the main areas for curriculum developers to focus on, when developing an Afro-centric sexual health curriculum suitable for students in health care professional courses. Moreover, these findings can be useful when developing treatment guidelines and policies that are beneficial to the sexual health wellbeing of individuals.

scholarly journals Visual impairment in South Africa: achieve-ments and challenges

2005 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
H.S. Sacharowitz
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
South African ◽  
Private Practice ◽  
Private Health Care ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
South African Population ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The Impact

Estimates of the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in South Africa are reviewed against the existing services and limitations in the country. The magnitude1 of visual impair-ment  and  the  projected  increase  worldwide over the coming decades have been recognized as having potentially far-reaching social, eco-nomic and quality of life implications for not only the affected individuals but also for their families and communities. Two-thirds or more of all blindness is avoidable, in that the causes are  preventable  or  treatable.2,  3  Early  detec-tion, prevention and management programs are needed to reduce the impact of visual impair-ment. Approximately 80% of the South African population is indigent, relying on public hospi-tals and clinics and the remaining 20% of the population has access to private health care.4 As the majority of eye care professionals are in private practice, access to eye care services are available to only a minority of the population. This paper reviews the current services in South Africa and the challenges that lie ahead.

scholarly journals Ecological considerations for intervention strategy in the development of eye health promotion policy in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hlupheka L. Sithole
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Intervention Strategy ◽  
Contributory Factor ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Eye Health

Eye health promotion is an important component of public health. To realise the essential aspects of eye health promotion, the formulation and implementation of policy as an intervention strategy is a major contributory factor and can best be described by an ecological framework. Ecological perspectives assert that people’s health affairs cannot be neatly grouped into diagnoses, symptoms and risk factors to be targeted and eliminated; this is because the core concept of an ecological model is that behaviour has many levels of influence, often including intrapersonal, interpersonal, organisational, physical environmental, and policy. Therefore, societal and personal issues can be directly linked to an ecological model that points to issues of numerous levels of influence on certain behaviours that affect the manner in which eye care services are utilised. These behaviours are therefore termed salient beliefs. Unfortunately, there is no study in South Africa that has identified the set of beliefs that are salient in any given population that might be responsible for influencing the uptake of eye care services. However, reorienting eye health care services through direct policy reforms and advocacy may change the landscape of eye health care services in South Africa.

The impact of routine ESAS use on receiving palliative care services: Results of a population-based retrospective matched cohort analysis.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (30_suppl) ◽  
pp. 191-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Catherine Barbera ◽  
Rinku Sutradhar ◽  
Craig Earle ◽  
Nicole Mittmann ◽  
Hsien Seow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Matched Cohort ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
The Impact

191 Background: In 2007 Cancer Care Ontario began standardized symptom assessment as part of routine clinical care using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). The purpose of this project was to evaluate the impact of this program on referrals to palliative care. We hypothesized that patients exposed to ESAS would be more likely to be referred. Methods: A retrospective matched cohort study was conducted to examine the impact of ESAS screening on the initiation of palliative care services provided by physician or homecare nurse among newly diagnosed cancer patients in Ontario, Canada. The study included all adult patients who were diagnosed with cancer between 2007 and 2015. Exposure was defined as completing ≥1 ESAS during the study period. Using four hard matched variables and propensity-score matching with 14 variables, cancer patients exposed to ESAS were matched 1:1 to those who were not. Matched patients were followed from first ESAS until initiation of palliative care, death or the end of study at Mar 31, 2017. Results: The final cohort consisted of 204,688 matched patients with no prior palliative care consult. The pairs were well matched. The probability of receiving palliative care within the first 5 years was higher among those exposed to ESAS compared to those who were not (20.6% vs. 15.2%, p < .0001). The risk of death without receipt of palliative care within the same period was low in both groups. In the adjusted cause-specific Cox proportional hazards model, ESAS assessment was associated with a 6% increase in palliative care services (HR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04-1.08). Conclusions: Cancer patients who completed ESAS were more likely to initiate palliative care services than those who didn’t. ESAS screening may help identify patients who would benefit from a palliative approach to care earlier in their clinical course.

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