scholarly journals The Washington Metropolitan Pediatric Vision Screening Quality Control Assessment

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natario L. Couser ◽  
Janine Smith-Marshall

Objective. To ascertain if parents are familiar with current recommendations on pediatric vision screening and to assess their knowledge of the roles that pediatricians, ophthalmologists and optometrists have in this screening process. Methods. A survey was targeted at parents to determine what the general public understands regarding vision screening. Results. The survey was conducted from January–May 2010. One hundred fifty six persons responded. Over one-third did not know the difference between eye care specialists. Many believed opticians and optometrists receive medical school training. Over forty percent incorrectly identified the recommended visual acuity testing age. A large discrepancy existed regarding who should perform pediatric eye exams. Most agreed a failed screening warranted follow-up, but there was not a uniform opinion as to when to seek care. The majority of respondents understood amblyopia should be treated at least before age ten; although nine percent believed amblyopia could be treated at any age. Discussion. There is a significant lack of understanding of the current screening recommendations, difference between eye care professionals, and the importance of early treatment of amblyopia. Conclusions. Many parents do not understand the potential detrimental consequences of delayed care in the event their child fails a vision screening.

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 834-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard C. Wasserman ◽  
Candace A. Croft ◽  
Sarah E. Brotherton

In this cross-sectional study, the vision-screening process is described for 8417 children aged 3 to 5 seen for health supervision in a group of 102 pediatric practices in 23 states and Puerto Rico. Three hundred forty children who failed screening (63% of those who failed) were followed up 2 months after initial screening. The sample was 52% male, 86% white, 9% black, 3% Hispanic, and 1% Asian. Vision screening was attempted on 66% of children overall. Pediatricians' reasons for not screening were "not routine" (44%), "too young" (40%), and "screening done previously" (17%). Younger children were less likely to be screened than older children (39% of those aged 3), and Hispanics were less likely to be screened than other ethnic groups (P < .001). Thirty-three percent of children received no screening for latent strabismus. Two months later, 50% of parents whose child had failed a vision test were unaware of this fact on questionnaire follow-up. Eighty-five percent of children referred to an eye specialist had made or kept an appointment. It is concluded that pediatricians need to increase vision screening among younger preschool children and communicate more effectively to parents the results of screening failure.


Author(s):  
Zhuo Su ◽  
Elizabeth K. Marvin ◽  
Bing Q. Wang ◽  
Tavé van Zyl ◽  
Maxwell D. Elia ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Niall Strang ◽  
Brendan Barrett ◽  
Rigmor C Baraas

This editorial highlights the scope of the topic that need to be examined further in the field of children’s vision screening. We hope that by making vision screening a special topic in SJOVS we can encourage collaboration between groups of researchers, clinicians and students and help in the development of evidence-based solutions to the current problems facing vision screening across the world. Of course, identifying eye and vision problems represents only the first stage in a screening process. It is important to mention that any screening programme requires several follow up steps to be successful. Good access to further examination for screening is required and affordable spectacles need to be provided. A mechanism of follow up is also important as, once dispensed, the spectacles need to be worn appropriately. Failure to address any of these issues will limit the benefits of a screening programme and innovative methods of addressing these issues are encouraged.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Rebecca S. Braverman

Colorado schools are required by law to perform vision screening. The aim of the study was to elucidate the vision screening process from the school nurse perspective. An electronic questionnaire distributed to Colorado school nurses, and developed by the author, was used to query Colorado nurses about the logistical challenges they face when performing vision screening. Common challenges faced when performing vision screening included: inadequate staff to perform vision screening, inadequate space to complete testing, uncooperative students, and poor parental compliance with referrals for further evaluation after their child failed their vision screen. Most nurses do not use instrument-based screening. Many nurses did not properly occlude the eyes when performing monocular visual acuity testing, which may lead to false negative screening results. The results of the questionnaire suggest there are opportunities to improve the vision screening process by nurses in Colorado schools. 


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259309
Author(s):  
Lynne Lohfeld ◽  
Christine Graham ◽  
Anne Effiom Ebri ◽  
Nathan Congdon ◽  
Ving Fai Chan

Background Uncorrected refractive error (URE) is a major cause of vision impairment in children worldwide. Cases are often detected through a school-based vision screening program and then treated in a follow-up appointment. This requires parents or guardians (‘parents’) to adhere to referrals for the eye exam and care plan. We aim to understand the reasons for parents’ referral non-adherence in Cross River State, Nigeria, using qualitative methods. Methods Ten focus groups were held with parents who had not adhered to the referral for a follow-up eye examination. Participants were recruited with help from staff in schools hosting the vision screening programme. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, audio taped and transcribed verbatim. After identifying relevant quotes, the researchers labelled each one with a descriptive code/subcode label. Then they clustered the data into categories and overarching themes. Results Forty-four parents participated in 10 focus group discussions with 28 women and 16 men. Three themes and participated in the focus group discussions with 28 women (63%). Twelve themes were generated. The three megathemes were Modifiable Factors (with 4 themes), Contextual Factors (with 6 themes), and Recommendations (with 2 themes). Conclusion Participants identified modifiable barriers that make it difficult for parents to adhere to a referral for a follow-up eye exam. These include not believing their child has a vision problem or the screening test, and issues with the referral letter. They also described important contextual factors such as poverty, logistical problems, parental attitudes towards their children and beliefs about appropriate care. Many of these issues could be addressed by following their recommendation to educate the public on the importance of child eye care and correct parents’ misconceptions. These themes will be used by the Nigerian government to enhance and scale up its child eye health programme.


2014 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 1009-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhuo Su ◽  
Bing Q Wang ◽  
Jennifer B Staple-Clark ◽  
Yvonne M Buys ◽  
Susan H Forster

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 422-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatsugu Orui

Abstract. Background: Monitoring of suicide rates in the recovery phase following a devastating disaster has been limited. Aim: We report on a 7-year follow-up of the suicide rates in the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred in March 2011. Method: This descriptive study covered the period from March 2009 to February 2018. Period analysis was used to divide the 108-month study period into nine segments, in which suicide rates were compared with national averages using Poisson distribution. Results: Male suicide rates in the affected area from March 2013 to February 2014 increased to a level higher than the national average. After subsequently dropping, the male rates from March 2016 to February 2018 re-increased and showed a greater difference compared with the national averages. The difference became significant in the period from March 2017 to February 2018 ( p = .047). Limitations: Specific reasons for increasing the rates in the recovery phase were not determined. Conclusion: The termination of the provision of free temporary housing might be influential in this context. Provision of temporary housing was terminated from 2016, which increased economic hardship among needy evacuees. Furthermore, disruption of the social connectedness in the temporary housing may have had an influence. Our findings suggest the necessity of suicide rate monitoring even in the recovery phase.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 320.1-321
Author(s):  
E. Loibner ◽  
V. Ritschl ◽  
B. Leeb ◽  
P. Spellitz ◽  
G. Eichbauer-Sturm ◽  
...  

Background:Gender differences in prevalence and disease course are known in various rheumatic diseases; however, investigations of gender difference concerning therapeutical response have yielded variable results.Objectives:The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate, whether a gender difference in response rate to biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and apremilast in bDMARD-naïve patients could be observed across the three most prevalent inflammatory arthritis diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondylarthritis (SpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Additionally, a response to individual TNF blockers was investigated in this respect.Methods:Data from bDMARD-naïve RA-, SpA- and PsA-patients from Bioreg, the Austrian registry for biological DMARDs in rheumatic diseases, were used. Patients with a baseline (Visit 1=V1) and follow-up visits at 6 months (Visit 2=V2) and 12 months (Visit 3=V3) were included and response to therapy with TNF-inhibitors (TNFi), furthermore to therapy with rituximab, tocilizumab and apremilast was analyzed according to gender. The remaining bDMARDs were not analyzed due to small numbers. Key response-parameter for RA was disease activity score (DAS28), whereas for PsoA the Stockerau Activity Score for Psoriatic Arthritis (SASPA) and for SpA the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were employed; in addition, the Health assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was used. Data were analyzed in R Statistic stratified by gender using Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests.Results:354 women and 123 men with RA (n=477), 81 women and 69 men with PsA (n=150), 121 women and 191 men with SpA (n=312) were included. No significant differences in biometrics was seen between female and male patients at baseline in all diseases.In RA patients overall DAS28 decreased from baseline (V1) to V2 and V3 (DAS28: V1: male: 4.38 [3.66, 5.11], female: 4.30 [3.68, 5.03], p(m/f) = 0.905; V2: male: 2.66 [1.73, 3.63], female: 3.10 [2.17, 3.98], p(m/f) = 0.015; V3: male: 2.25 [1.39, 3.36], female: 3.01 [1.87, 3.87], p(m/f) = 0.002). For TNF inhibitors (n=311), there was a significant difference between genders at V2 (Fig.1a). Patients receiving Rituximab (n=41) displayed a significantly higher DAS28 at baseline in females, which diminished in the follow up: V1: (p(m/f) p=0.002; V2: p=0.019; V3: p=0.13); response to tocilizumab (n=63) did not show any gender differences.In PsA patients overall SASPA decreased from baseline (V1) to V2 and V3 (SASPA: V1: male: 4.00 [2.80, 5.20], female: 4.40 [2.80, 5.80], p(m/f) = 0.399; V2: male: 2.20 [1.20, 3.50], female: 3.40 [2.00, 5.00], p(m/f) = 0.071; V3: male: 1.80 [0.80, 2.70], female: 3.01 [2.35, 4.80], p(m/f) = 0.001). For TNF inhibitors (n=79), there was a significant difference between genders at V3 (Fig 1a). For Apremilast (n=39), there was a significant difference between genders at V2 (Fig.1c).In SpA patients overall BASDAI decreased from baseline (V1) to V2 and V3 (BASDAI: V1: male: 4.70 [2.88, 6.18], female: 4.80 [3.30, 6.20], p(m/f) = 0.463; V2: male: 3.05 [2.00, 4.60], female: 3.64 [2.62, 5.41], p(m/f) = 0.039; V3: male: 3.02 [1.67, 4.20], female: 3.65 [2.18, 5.47], p(m/f) = 0.016). In V3 a differential BASDAI in response to TNFi (n=299) was observed (Fig.1a).Possible differences of response to individual TNFi (etanercept, infliximab, other TNFi) measured by HAQ were investigated in all diseases together. The difference between male and females was significant at baseline for all 3 TNFi; whereas with the use of ETA the significant difference was carried through to V2 and V3, it was lost with the use of IFX and was variable with the other TNFi (Fig.1b)Figure 1.Conclusion:Female patients showed a statistically lower response to TNFi in all three disease entities (RA, SpA and PsoA) to a variable degree in our homogenous central european population. Interestingly, the difference was not uniform across individual TNFi when measured by HAQ. Gender differences were also seen in response to Apremilast.Disclosure of Interests:Elisabeth Loibner: None declared, Valentin Ritschl: None declared, Burkhard Leeb Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Roche, MSD, Pfizer, Actiopharm, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Kwizda, Celgene, Sandoz, Grünenthal, Eli-Lilly, Grant/research support from: TRB, Roche, Consultancies: AbbVie, Amgen, Roche, MSD, Pfizer, Celgene, Grünenthal, Kwizda, Eli-Lilly, Novartis, Sandoz;, Peter Spellitz: None declared, Gabriela Eichbauer-Sturm: None declared, Jochen Zwerina: None declared, Manfred Herold: None declared, Miriam Stetter: None declared, Rudolf Puchner Speakers bureau: AbbVie, BMS, Janssen, Kwizda, MSD, Pfizer, Celgene, Grünenthal, Eli-Lilly, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Pfizer, Celgene, Grünenthal, Eli-Lilly, Franz Singer: None declared, Ruth Fritsch-Stork: None declared


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