HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

A cross-sectional survey of optometrists and optometric practices in Ghana.

AbstractPURPOSE:
The study was conducted to profile optometrists and optometric practices in Ghana.
METHODS:
An online survey was conducted among 146 optometrists, who were registered with the Ghana Optometric Association (GOA). It included questions on their demographics, equipment, ophthalmic procedures routinely conducted and the barriers to providing a full scope of optometric services.
RESULTS:
Ninety registered optometrists (62 per cent) responded, their mean age being 28.97 ± 3.36 years. There were more males (68.9 per cent) than females and most had the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree, the profession's highest degree in Ghana. There were more practitioners in urban centres (71.1 per cent) and most practices had basic optometric instruments, such as direct ophthalmoscopes, slitlamp biomicroscopes and retinoscopes. Many optometrists routinely conducted direct ophthalmoscopy (100 per cent), slitlamp biomicroscopy (87.5 per cent) and contact tonometry (55.7 per cent); however, few provided contact lens (10.2 per cent) and low vision (9.1 per cent) assessments, with 76 per cent stating that it was due to the unavailability of low vision devices, poor sources of contact lenses (27 per cent) and perceived insufficient training (11.2 per cent). Many practitioners (97 per cent) reported the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (96.6 per cent). Most practitioners (52.9 per cent) preferred conferences for the delivery of continuous professional development over publications (26.4 per cent) and internet resources (12.6 per cent).
CONCLUSION:
The data elicited in this study provide a basis for addressing the country's unmet eye-care needs and can be used to determine training and support guidelines for the profession.
AuthorsSamuel Bert Boadi-Kusi, Michael Ntodie, Khathutshelo Percy Mashige, Andrew Owusu-Ansah, Kwaku Antwi Osei
JournalClinical & experimental optometry (Clin Exp Optom) Vol. 98 Issue 5 Pg. 473-7 (Sep 2015) ISSN: 1444-0938 [Electronic] United States
PMID25944332 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Copyright© 2015 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Optometry © 2015 Optometry Australia.
Topics
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Ghana (epidemiology)
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Internet
  • Male
  • Optometry
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vision, Low (epidemiology, rehabilitation)
  • Workforce

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: