School-based vision program well-received by stakeholders
Parents and teachers who took part in a school-based vision program (SBVP) found the program to be mostly positive, especially regarding its convenience, according to a study.
Researchers conducted 20 focus groups of 105 parents and teachers from schools participating in the program.
Most participants felt positive about the program. Reported benefits included:
–Convenience
-Scope of the program
-Quality of eyeglasses/replacements
-Good screening/exam experience
Participants reported limitations related to communication/organization, how long it took to receive glasses, missed instructions, and “uncertainty about screenings.”
Participants reported academics, visual, and health improvements.
“To maximize impact, programs must also implement robust communication campaigns that integrate into the schools’ workflow to help parents and teachers stay engaged in the process from start to finish,” the authors concluded.
Reference
Kretz AM, Vongsachang H, Friedman DS, et al. Stakeholders’ perceptions of a school-based eye care programme in Baltimore, MD. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2021:1-10. doi: 10.1080/09286586.2021.1946825. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34251966.
