Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: A systematic review and meta-analysis

10.1016/S2214-109X(13)70145-1The Lancet Global Health22e106-e11

Assessing the accuracy and feasibility of a refractive error screening program conducted by school teachers in pre-primary and primary schools in Thailand

10.1371/journal.pone.0096684PLoS ONE96e9668

Assessing the Accuracy and Feasibility of a Refractive Error Screening Program Conducted by School Teachers in Pre-Primary and Primary Schools in Thailand

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>As part of the development of a system for the screening of refractive error in Thai children, this study describes the accuracy and feasibility of establishing a program conducted by teachers.</p><p>Objective</p><p>To assess the accuracy and feasibility of screening by teachers.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study was conducted in 17 schools in four provinces representing four geographic regions in Thailand. A two-staged cluster sampling was employed to compare the detection rate of refractive error among eligible students between trained teachers and health professionals. Serial focus group discussions were held for teachers and parents in order to understand their attitude towards refractive error screening at schools and the potential success factors and barriers.</p><p>Results</p><p>The detection rate of refractive error screening by teachers among pre-primary school children is relatively low (21%) for mild visual impairment but higher for moderate visual impairment (44%). The detection rate for primary school children is high for both levels of visual impairment (52% for mild and 74% for moderate). The focus group discussions reveal that both teachers and parents would benefit from further education regarding refractive errors and that the vast majority of teachers are willing to conduct a school-based screening program.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Refractive error screening by health professionals in pre-primary and primary school children is not currently implemented in Thailand due to resource limitations. However, evidence suggests that a refractive error screening program conducted in schools by teachers in the country is reasonable and feasible because the detection and treatment of refractive error in very young generations is important and the screening program can be implemented and conducted with relatively low costs.</p></div

Detection rate of the teachers according to the severity of visual acuity level.

<p>Mild or no visual impairment: PVA equal to or better than 20/70; moderate visual impairment: PVA worse than 20/70 - equal to or better than 20/200; severe visual impairment to blindness: PVA worse than 20/200.</p

Age, gender, and number of students screened by each teacher.

<p>Age, gender, and number of students screened by each teacher.</p

Sensitivity and specificity value of the teachers with various levels of gold standards.

<p>Sensitivity and specificity value of the teachers with various levels of gold standards.</p

Defining the best cut-off point for pre-primary school teachers' screening and estimated cases for a nationwide program.

<p><i>* Hypothetical situation for 1,591,704 pre-primary school students </i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0096684#pone.0096684-2" target="_blank">[<i>28</i>]</a><i>; children receiving spectacles are the children who have significant refractive error.</i></p