141st APHA Annual Meeting

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277167
Results of the lions presurvey administered to patients at the Illinois eye institute at princeton school-based vision clinic

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Sandra Block, OD , Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL
Melissa Suckow, OD , Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL, Afghanistan
Kathleen O'Leary, OD , Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL
Valarie Conrad, OD, MPH, ARM , Vice President of Compliance & Community-Based Services, Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL
In October 2013, Lions Clubs International Foundation provided lenses to address uncorrected refractive error in Chicago Public School students to IEI at Princeton School-based Vision clinic. To determine the success of the project, we introduced a survey that students take when they present and a post-survey to be given after they wear the new correction for several weeks. We are presenting the results for the initial survey administered from October through December.

During the first three months,, 1,707 patients were seen for comprehensive exams. They ranged in age from 7 months to 22 years of age with a mean of 12.0 years. 1,626 students were able to complete some or all of the survey. For children unable to read, the questions were asked by an adult. Of the children seen, 680 reported never have worn glasses and 693 lost, broke or report they do not help. Only 23.1% report never having an eye exam before however, 24.9% do not recall when they did. In asking how often they should have an exam, 49.7% indicated yearly, 29.9% said every 6 months and 20.4% indicated every 2 years or more. In asking if they feel the glasses will help, 71.1% felt they would help in school and 55.1% felt they would help sports performance.

The survey demonstrates that children are aware of the importance of vision correction for school but it appears as if we need to do a better job of teaching them about the importance of regular eye exams.

Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Describe the results of the survey administered to children with the learner understanding the need to better educate children about the need for regular eye care and the benefits to school and sports performance.

Keywords: Vision Care, Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Medical Director of this clinic and was involved in developing the survey and administering it. I have an optometric and public health background.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.