Teacher and school staff perspectives on their role in school-based vision programs

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Ophthalmology
• Education

Background:

• School-based vision programs (SBVPs) aim to improve children's access to vision care.
• Teacher and staff perspectives on SBVPs are understudied.
• Teachers and staff are key stakeholders in SBVP implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine teacher and staff perspectives on their involvement in SBVPs.
• To understand the roles teachers and staff play in SBVP success.
• To identify challenges and opportunities for enhancing SBVP effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing 21 semistructured focus groups.
• Involved 117 teachers and staff from public schools in Baltimore and Chicago.
• Employed inductive thematic analysis of transcribed focus group sessions.

Main Results:

• Teachers and staff are integral to SBVP outreach, engaging parents through various communication methods.
• They play a significant role in promoting vision health, including identifying issues and encouraging eyewear use.
• Participants noted limitations in their capacity to fully engage in these supportive roles.

Conclusions:

• Teachers are essential for SBVP success, facilitating parent engagement and health promotion.
• Optimizing SBVP impact requires strategies to better support teachers' roles.
• School-based health programs should leverage and support educators' involvement.