Indicators for Assessing the Quality of Refractive Error Care

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Optometry
• Public Health
• Healthcare Quality Assessment

Background:

• Quality refractive error care is crucial for preventing vision impairment.
• Standardized methods for assessing refractive error care quality are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop and test quality indicators for refractive error care.
• Evaluate the applicability of these indicators using unannounced standardized patients (USPs).

Main Methods:

• Developed three quality of refractive error care (Q.REC) indicators: optimally prescribed spectacles, adequately prescribed spectacles, and vector dioptric distance.
• Trained 21 USPs to visit optical stores in Vietnam for refraction and spectacle ordering.
• Assessed spectacles against Q.REC indicators and analyzed associations with vision and comfort outcomes.

Main Results:

• 44.1% of spectacles provided good vision and comfort.
• Spectacles meeting the 'optimally prescribed' indicator showed significantly better vision (94.6%) and comfort (66.1%) compared to those meeting no indicators.
• The 'adequately prescribed' indicator was linked to better comfort (57.7%) but not significantly different vision outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The 'optimally prescribed spectacles' indicator is a promising tool for assessing refractive error care quality.
• Unannounced standardized patients provide a practical and standardized approach for evaluating refractive error care quality.