scholarly journals Pediatric vision screening: The Colorado school nurse experience

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. 

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Leman ◽  
Michelle M. Clausen ◽  
Janice Bates ◽  
Lee Stark ◽  
Koni K. Arnold ◽  
...  

Early detection of significant vision problems in children is a high priority for pediatricians and school nurses. Routine vision screening is a necessary part of that detection and has traditionally involved acuity charts. However, photoscreening in which “red eye” is elicited to show whether each eye is focusing may outperform routine acuity testing in pediatric offices and schools. This study compares portable acuity testing with photoscreening of preschoolers, kindergarteners, and 1st-graders in 21 elementary schools. School nurses performed enhanced patched acuity testing and two types of photoscreening in a portable tent. Nearly 1,700 children were screened during spring semester 2004, and 14% had confirmatory exams by community eye care professionals. The results indicate that one form of photoscreening using a Gateway DV-S20 digital camera is significantly more sensitive to children with significant vision problems, as well as being the most cost effective (85% specificity and only $0.11 per child). This suggests that the adaptation of photoscreening into a routine vision screening protocol would be beneficial for efficiently detecting vision problems that could lead to amblyopia.


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.


Key Points Vision screening for amblyopia and strabismus can help prevent loss of vision in children. Screening should begin early in infancy by testing the ability to fixate and follow and by checking the corneal light reflex for symmetry. Instrument-based screening should begin by the first birthday, and visual acuity testing is successful in most children by 3 years of age. The earlier treatment is started, the better is the prognosis.


2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 528-536
Author(s):  
R. Khand ekar ◽  
S. Al Harby ◽  
T. Abdul Majeed ◽  
S. A. Helmi ◽  
I. S. Shuaili

We tested the validity of vision screening in schools in 7 regions of Oman in 2003. Two researchers tested 1719 randomly selected students in 4 school grades using the Snellen E acuity test. Trained school nurses had previously screened 182 233 students. The visual status recorded in the 2 screenings was compared. Sensitivity of screening by nurses was 68.34% [95% CI:67.30-69.38] and specificity 99.23% [95% CI:99.19-99.27]. The positive predictive value was 85.42% [95% CI:84.63-86.21] and negative predictive value was 97.93% [95% CI:97.87-98.00]. The sensitivity of the vision test was significantly higher in females, older students and in North Sharqiya region. In general, the vision screening of school students in Oman has satisfactory validity. Periodic training of nurses and supervision of the screening procedures could improve its sensitivity. Underlying causes of the high numbers of false negative cases should be further investigated


1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa R. Shyan ◽  
Jeff Peterson ◽  
Barbara Milankow ◽  
Robert H. I. Dale

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Salam Chettian Kandi ◽  
Hayat Ahmad Khan

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Uncorrected refractive errors and amblyopia pose a major problem affecting schoolchildren. We had previously observed that many schoolchildren in the Hatta region presented to the ophthalmology clinic with uncorrected refractive errors and amblyopia, which led us to undertake this research. As per the WHO, the term “visual impairment” can be “low vision” or “blindness.” Based on the presenting vision, “low vision” is defined for children who have vision of &#x3c;6/18 to 3/60 or having visual field loss to &#x3c;20° in the better-seeing eye. Children defined to have “blindness” have presenting vision of &#x3c;3/60 or corresponding visual field of &#x3c;10°. <b><i>Purpose:</i></b> To estimate the magnitude of uncorrected refractive errors and amblyopia among the schoolchildren aged 6–19 years and to assess the efficacy of school-based refractive error screening programs in the Hatta region of the United Arab Emirates. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> An epidemiological, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on the entire student population studying in the government schools of the region. Those who failed the Snellen visual acuity chart test and those who were wearing spectacles were evaluated comprehensively by the researcher in the Department of Ophthalmology of the Hatta Hospital. Data were entered in the Refractive Error Study in School Children (RESC) eye examination form recommended by the WHO, and were later transferred to Excel sheets and analyzed by SPSS. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 1,591 students were screened and evaluated from the end of 2016 to mid-2017. About 21.37% (<i>n</i> = 340) had impaired vision with 20.9% (<i>n</i> = 333) refractive errors, of which 58% were uncorrected. Among the refractive error group, 19% (64 subjects) had amblyopia (4% of total students). The incidence of low vision was 9.5% and blindness was 0.38%. Low vision was found to be 9.5% and blindness 0.38%, taking in to account presenting visual acuity rather than best-corrected visual acuity for defining low vision and blindness. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> A significant number of students were detected to have uncorrected refractive errors among the vision impaired group (59%, <i>n</i> = 197) despite a school-based vision screening program in place. Seventy-eight percent of the amblyopia cases (<i>n</i> = 50) were found to be in the 11–19 years age group. Noncompliance with optical corrections was the reason for the high number of cases. A rigorous vision screening program and refractive services, complimented with awareness among parents and teachers, are recommended.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105984052110129
Author(s):  
Krista Schroeder ◽  
Ally Young ◽  
Gail Adman ◽  
Ann Marie Ashmeade ◽  
Estherlyn Bonas ◽  
...  

This study assessed associations between school nurse workload and student health and academic outcomes. We hypothesized that lower school nurse workload would be associated with better student outcomes, with associations being greater for members of groups who experience health disparities. Our methods entailed secondary analysis of data for New York City school students in kindergarten through 12th grade during 2015–2016 ( N = 1,080,923), using multilevel multivariate regression as the analytic approach. Results demonstrated lower school nurse workload was associated with better outcomes for student participation in asthma education but not chronic absenteeism, early dismissals, health office visits, immunization compliance, academic achievement, or overweight/obesity. Our findings suggest school nurses may influence proximal outcomes, such as participation in disease-related education, more easily than downstream outcomes, such as absenteeism or obesity. While contrary to our hypotheses, results align with the fact that school nurses deliver community-based, population health–focused care that is inherently complex, multilevel, and directly impacted by social determinants of health. Future research should explore school nurses’ perspectives on what factors influence their workload and how they can best impact student outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 416-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Altinoluk-Davis ◽  
S Gray ◽  
I Bray

Abstract Background This study assesses whether increased coverage of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination differs between areas where school nurses deliver catch-up MMR doses to adolescents in school settings, compared to signposting to general practice. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Child Health Information Services records within the NHS England South (South Central) commissioning boundary. The sample population included children born 1 September 2000–31 August 2001, in school year 9 during the 2014–15 academic year. Results The primary outcome findings show an increase in coverage of at least one dose of MMR by 1.6% (n = 334) in the cohort receiving catch-up MMR, compared to 0.2% (n = 12) in the cohort signposted to general practice. Over time, the difference in increase between the two cohorts was 1.4%, analysed using the chi-squared comparison of proportions test, providing strong evidence (P &lt; 0.0001) that school nurse delivery of catch-up MMR is effective at increasing coverage. The findings also suggest that school nurse delivery of catch-up MMR may benefit Black, Asian and minority ethnic children and those from more deprived backgrounds. Conclusions It is recommended that commissioners of school-aged immunization services incorporate the delivery of catch-up MMR doses in their contracts with school nurses.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105984052199205
Author(s):  
Alicia M. Hoke ◽  
Chelsea M. Keller ◽  
William A. Calo ◽  
Deepa L. Sekhar ◽  
Erik B. Lehman ◽  
...  

Pennsylvania responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by closing schools and moving to online instruction in March 2020. We surveyed Pennsylvania school nurses ( N = 350) in May 2020 to assess the impact of COVID-19 on nurses’ concerns about returning to school and impact on practice. Data were analyzed using χ2 tests and regression analyses. Urban school nurses were more concerned about returning to the school building without a COVID-19 vaccine than rural nurses ( OR = 1.58, 95% CI [1.05, 2.38]). Nurses in urban locales were more likely to report being asked for guidance on COVID-19 ( OR = 1.69, 95% CI [1.06, 2.68]), modify communication practices ( OR = 2.33, 95% CI [1.42, 3.82]), and be “very/extremely concerned” about their safety ( OR = 2.16, 95% CI [1.35, 3.44]). Locale and student density are important factors to consider when resuming in-person instruction; however, schools should recognize school nurses for their vital role in health communication to assist in pandemic preparedness and response.


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