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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Janet L. Leasher, OD, MPH¹, Sherrol A. Reynolds, OD, FAAO¹, Rachel A. Coulter, OD, FAAO, FCOVD¹, and Marcia Bynoe, ARNP, MSN, FNP/S². (1) College of Optometry, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 S. University Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, 954-262-1488, leasher@nsu.nova.edu, (2) Director of Health Education Services, Broward County School Board, 600 SE Third Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Florida's School Health Services Act requires vision screening, referral, follow-up of suspected or confirmed problems by the local county health department, consultation with students' parents regarding the need for visual attention, and records maintenance on incidents of vision problems, corrective measures taken and such other information needed to plan and evaluate health programs. This study aimed to identify obstacles to vision care following school-based vision screenings in underserved minority children in 2003-2004 in Broward County public elementary schools by conducting a parental telephone survey of those Kindergarten/First Grade minority school children with vision screening failure: had they received the note regarding their child's results, did they take the child for examination, and if not, what were the reasons for no follow-up. Of 289 households, 84.7% could not be reached by phone. Of 44 households reachable, 61% stated they had not received the note sent home from school. Of the remaining 39%, 98% took their child to the eye doctor. One parent (2%) received the note but had not taken the child to the eye doctor due to financial difficulties-- no insurance including Medicaid. Parental/guardian barriers to accessing vision care could not be adequately determined due to the limited number of parents contactable by phone and the small number who received the school note regarding their children's results. The barrier appears to be in implementing the procedures in communicating the results and follow-up by the school district and the health department to the families of vulnerable children with vision problems.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss Vision Screening Guidelines for Florida's School Health Services Act.
• List potential barriers to follow-up after failed school screenings.
• Recognize the limitations of school-to-parent communications regarding vision screening results.

Keywords: School-Based Programs, Vision Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation