Knowledge On Ocular Health Among University Hospital Staff [conhecimentos Sobre Saúde Ocular Entre Profissionais De Um Hospital Universitário]

Design of the study: Observational/exploratory survey. Objective: To verify knowledge on ocular health among university hospital staff. Methodology: An open questionnaire on ocular diseases (cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and procedures on chemical burn) was applied to health personnel. Results: The sample was composed by 122 individuals: 30 senior nurses (24.6%), 52 nursing assistants (42.6%), 24 administrative workers (19.7%), and 16 employees working in the ophthalmologic clinic (13.1%). They have shown knowledge on what caratact means (83.3% of the nurses and 75.0% of the ophthalmology staff). Among groups who belong to other areas differentfrom ophthalmology, was misunderstood the real concept of cataract Glaucoma is unknown by 79.1% of the hospital's administrative employees; 37.6% of the ophthalmology service personnel declare having no knowledge concerning cure for, or control over, this vision affection. The non-acquaintance with the consequences of diabetes for the vision system was observed in all groups. Conclusion: The lack of knowledge on ocular health was observed in all groups. The development of training programs for the hospital staff with the purpose of multiplying eye health education to the hospital patients and in the social and cultural environment is suggested.3515361Green, L.W., Kreuter, M.W., (1991) Health Promotion Planning - An Educational and Environmental Approach. 2 nd Ed., pp. 154-173. , Mountain View, MayfieldTemporini, E.R., Kara-José, N., Niveis de prevenção de problemas oftalmológicos: Propostas de investigação (1995) Arq Bras Oftalmol, 58, pp. 189-192Candeias, N.M.F., The concepts of health education and promotion - Individual and organizational changes (1997) Rev Saúde Pública, 31, pp. 209-213Briceño-Leon, R., Siete tesis sobre la educación sanitária para la participación comunitária (1996) Cad Saúde Pública, 12, pp. 7-30(1984) Strategies for the Prevention of Blindness in National Programmes - A Primary Health Care Approach, , WHO, GenevaRice, M.A., Framework for developing health promotion and education iniciatives in reproductive health (1996) Promot Educ, 3, pp. 7-10Rocha, J.C.P., Gondim, E.L., Braga, F.T.C., Dantas, F.J., Temporini, E.R., Kara-José, N., Ocular health myths among a hospital staff (1997) Ophthalmic Epidemiol, 4, pp. 107-113Verdaguer, T.J., One world, one voice, one vision (1998) Arq Bras Oftalmol, 61, pp. 5-6Ellwein, L.B., Kupfer, C., Strategic issues in preventing cataract blindness in developing countries (1995) Bull World Health Organ, 73, pp. 681-690Kara-José, N., Contreras, F., Campos, M.A., Delgado, A.M., Mowery, R.L., Ellwein, L.B., Screening and surgical intervention results from cataract-free zones projects in Campinas, Brazil and Chimbote, Peru (1990) Int Ophthalmol, 14, pp. 155-164Temporini, E.R., Kara-José, N., Kara-José Jr., N., Catarata senil: Características e percepções de pacientes atendidos em projeto comunitário de reabilitação visual (1997) Arq Bras Oftalmol, 60, pp. 79-83Sommer, A., Organizing to prevent third world blindness (1989) Am J Ophthalmol, 107, pp. 544-546Kara-José, N., Temporini, E.R., Cirurgia da catarata: O porquê dos excluídos (1999) Rev Panamer Saúde Pública, 6, pp. 242-248Gullo, R.M., Costa, V.P., Bernardi, L., Kara-José, N., Condições visuais de pacientes glaucomatosos em um hospital universitário (1996) Arq Bras Oftalmol, 59, pp. 147-150Thylefors, B., Négrel, A.D., Pararajasegaram, R., Dadzie, K.Y., Global data on blindness (1995) Bull World Health Organ, 73, pp. 115-121Bower, N.K., A primary care team approach to the prevention of ocular complications of diabetes: A program review (1997) J Am Optom Assoc, 68, pp. 233-24