Strategies to address inequity of uncorrected refractive error in the Western Pacific: A modified Delphi process.

Autor: McCormick I; International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK., Tong K; International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.; Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong., Abdullah N; PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.; Eccles Institute of Neuroscience, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia., Abesamis-Dischoso C; The Professional ODs Society, Pasig, Philippines., Gende T; Divine Word University, Madang, Papua New Guinea.; The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand, Madang, Papua New Guinea., Hashim EB; Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.; Ministry of Health, Putrajaya, Malaysia., Ho SM; The Fred Hollows Foundation, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., Jalbert I; School of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia., Jeronimo B; Department of Ophthalmology, Guido Valadares National Hospital, Dili, Timor-Leste., Matoto-Raikabakaba E; Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva, Fiji., Ono K; Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan., Piyasena PN; Directorate of Policy Analysis and Development, Ministry of Health, Colombo, Sri Lanka.; Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK., Rogers JT; School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand., Szetu J; The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand Regional Eye Centre, Honiara, Solomon Islands., Tran MA; Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam., Tse DY; School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China., Win Y; Sight for All, Yangon, Myanmar., Yap TP; IGARD Vision Therapy Centre, Singapore City, Singapore., Yoon S; Department of Medical Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea., Yusufu M; Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., Burton MJ; International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK., Ramke J; International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.; School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) [Ophthalmic Physiol Opt] 2024 Sep; Vol. 44 (6), pp. 1148-1161. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jun 16.
DOI: 10.1111/opo.13348
Abstrakt: Purpose: Uncorrected refractive error is the leading cause of vision impairment globally; however, little attention has been given to equity and access to services. This study aimed to identify and prioritise: (1) strategies to address inequity of access to refractive error services and (2) population groups to target with these strategies in five sub-regions within the Western Pacific.
Methods: We invited eye care professionals to complete a two-round online prioritisation process. In round 1, panellists nominated population groups least able to access refractive error services, and strategies to improve access. Responses were summarised and presented in round 2, where panellists ranked the groups (by extent of difficulty and size) and strategies (in terms of reach, acceptability, sustainability, feasibility and equity). Groups and strategies were scored according to their rank within each sub-region.
Results: Seventy five people from 17 countries completed both rounds (55% women). Regional differences were evident. Indigenous peoples were a priority group for improving access in Australasia and Southeast Asia, while East Asia identified refugees and Oceania identified rural/remote people. Across the five sub-regions, reducing out-of-pocket costs was a commonly prioritised strategy for refraction and spectacles. Australasia prioritised improving cultural safety, East Asia prioritised strengthening school eye health programmes and Oceania and Southeast Asia prioritised outreach to rural areas.
Conclusion: These results provide policy-makers, researchers and funders with a starting point for context-specific actions to improve access to refractive error services, particularly among underserved population groups who may be left behind in existing private sector-dominated models of care.
(© 2024 The Author(s). Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of College of Optometrists.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: