Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2025
Using an Automated Hirschberg Test App to Evaluate Ocular Alignment
Published on: March 24, 2020
Parental Compliance with Preschool Vision Screening Test
Hilit Kerner Lavi1,2, Tal Koval1,2, Ilanit Trifonov2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon 58100, Israel.
Insights
Parental consent and adherence to preschool vision screening (PVS) and follow-up care are high. However, migrant families face more barriers, indicating a need for targeted PVS strategies.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Preschool vision screening (PVS) is crucial for early detection of visual impairments.
- Parental compliance significantly impacts the effectiveness of PVS programs.
- Understanding barriers to PVS and follow-up care is essential for improving child eye health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify barriers to parental consent and compliance with preschool vision screening tests.
- To assess parental adherence to recommended follow-up eye care after vision screening.
- To explore factors influencing parental participation in PVS programs.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 1511 children aged 3-6 years across 46 preschools.
- Parental consent obtained for vision screening.
- Standardized questionnaires administered via telephone to parents who did not consent or whose child failed screening.
Main Results:
- High parental consent rate (85.7%) for PVS.
- Primary reasons for non-consent were unawareness or logistical issues (92.1%).
- 80.0% of parents whose children failed screening adhered to follow-up care; native language speakers and native-born parents showed higher adherence.
Conclusions:
- Overall parental cooperation with PVS and follow-up care is high.
- Migrant families encounter greater challenges in adhering to PVS recommendations.
- Tailored strategies are needed to address the specific needs of diverse populations in PVS programs.
Abstract:
Objective: To assess the barriers to parental compliance with preschool vision screening tests and the recommended follow-up eye care. Methods: This prospective study included children aged 3-6 years attending 46 preschools. Parents were asked for consent for their children to participate in a vision screening test. Parents whose child did not participate due to lack of parental consent and parents whose child failed the screening test were contacted by telephone and given a standardized questionnaire to identify potential barriers to compliance. Results: A total of 1511 children (mean age 4.76 years ± 0.76, 51.3% boys) were eligible for vision screening. Consent was given by the parents of 1295 children (85.7%). Lack of consent in children who had never been examined by an ophthalmologist was primarily due to unawareness of the screening test or other logistical reasons (117 cases, 92.1%). Of the children screened, 140 (11.1%) failed the test and 80.0% of their parents adhered to the recommended follow-up eye care. Parents who followed the screening vision test recommendations were more likely to be native language speakers (82.8% vs. 58.8% mothers and 88.9% vs. 60.0% fathers; p = 0.049 and 0.015, respectively). There was a higher chance of at least one parent being native-born if recommendations were followed (90.6% vs. 58.8%, p = 0.004). All other factors tested were insignificant. Conclusions: Parental consent and cooperation with vision screening test and its recommendations were high. Migrant families are more likely to face challenges in following vision screening test recommendations, underscoring the need for tailored approaches for specific populations.
