The effect of education seminars on pediatric vision screening in the primary care settings

The primary aim of this study was to assess the practice behaviors of physicians on pediatric vision screening (VS) in primary care settings in Turkey and compare the groups in respect of previous education on VS.

All physicians working in the primary care settings of Kayseri province of Turkey were directly administered a 24-item questionnaire at planned education seminars. The groups were compared according to a history of VS education (Group 1) and no history of VS education (Group 2). The self-reported questionnaire results were analyzed statistically.

A total of 124 of 453 physicians completed the survey with a response rate of 27.3%. VS was reported to be performed as recommended by 70.2% of the participants. The physicians in Group 1 were significantly older (P < 0.05) and more experienced (P < 0.05) than those in Group 2. Group 1 performed the red reflex (RR) test significantly more frequently (P < 0.05) and referred the patients to an ophthalmologist less frequently than Group 2 (P < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that age (P < 0.05) and previous education (P < 0.05) were the independent factors for visual acuity and RR testing, respectively. Practice-related factors were the most commonly reported barriers to VS in primary care settings.

Although there is a high rate of reported full adherence to the recommendations for pediatric VS, it seems to be more likely to be performed insufficiently. Practice-related barriers should be handled by publicly available education materials (e.g., YouTube videos). VS education should be added at an earlier stage of medical training programs.