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Validity of vision screening program conducted by preschool teachers: An interventional study
Uddin Mezbah1,2, Rokiah Omar1,3, Zaleha Md Isa4
1Optometry and Vision Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Insights
The Bengali KieVision™ kit effectively identifies vision impairment in preschool children. Trained teachers significantly improved screening accuracy, aiding early detection and treatment in Bangladesh.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Clear vision is vital for preschool learning and development.
- Early detection and treatment of vision impairment improve outcomes.
- Bangladesh lacks established vision screening programs for preschoolers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Bengali version of the KieVision™ Preschool Vision Screening Kit.
- To assess the effectiveness of trained preschool teachers in identifying vision impairment.
- To enhance vision screening capabilities for preschool children in Bangladesh.
Main Methods:
- A prospective case-control study involving 60 preschool teachers in Chittagong.
- The study group was trained on the Bengali KieVision™ kit; the control group used a standard module.
- Teachers screened 15 children each, with optometrist re-screening for validation.
Main Results:
- The study group (KieVision™ kit) showed higher screening validity (sensitivity 68.00%, specificity 92.75%) than the control group (sensitivity 47.37%, specificity 70.39%).
- High agreement (AC1 ≥ 0.80) was observed between teachers and optometrists using the KieVision™ kit.
- Visual acuity testing with the KieVision™ kit demonstrated superior sensitivity and specificity in the trained teacher group.
Conclusions:
- The Bengali KieVision™ Preschool Vision Screening Kit is effective for use by preschool teachers.
- The kit can significantly improve the identification of vision impairment in preschool children.
- Implementation of this kit can support early intervention and better visual health outcomes in Bangladesh.
Background:
Clear vision is crucial for effective learning among preschool children. Hence, early detection of vision impairment and prompt treatment are required to improve prognosis. Currently, limited information is available, and no program exists to screen for vision impairment among preschoolers in Bangladesh. This study aimed to validate the KieVision™ Preschool Vision Screening Kit, translated into the Bengali language, to improve vision impairment detection among preschool children.
Methods:
In this prospective case-control study, 60 preschool teachers from Chittagong were randomly selected. The study group was trained to conduct vision screening among preschool children using the translated kit, whereas the control group was trained using the Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex (CEITC) School Teachers' Training Module. Fifteen preschool children aged 4-6 years were screened by each preschool teacher and again by the optometrist.
Results:
Sixty preschool teachers screened 900 children. The results showed a higher validity of vision screening findings by the preschool teachers in the study group (sensitivity, 68.00%; specificity, 92.75%) than in the control group (sensitivity 47.37%, specificity 70.39%). The level of agreement between the preschool teachers and optometrists was high for all tests (first-order agreement coefficient [AC1] ≥ 0.80 in the study group). The sensitivity and specificity of the visual acuity test for the study group were 59.65% and 94.15%, respectively, while in the control group it was 13.33% and 62.54%, respectively. A similar trend was noted in the general observation component and Hirschberg's test.
Conclusions:
The Bengali Language KieVision™ Preschool Vision Screening Kit can be used effectively by preschool teachers in vision screening programs to improve the identification of vision impairment among preschool children in Bangladesh.
