Evaluation of the NSPB elementary school teaching units on eye health and safety

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of elementary school teaching units on eye health and safety developed by the National Society to Prevent Blindness. Pretest and posttest scores on a questionnaire covering the units' information were compared for experimental and matched control groups from second, third, fifth and sixth grade classrooms in three states. The experimental groups showed significant increases in mean classroom scores. However, these increases were not as large as expected and suggest a need for additional development of the teaching units. Results of a teacher survey indicated that the teaching units produced positive changes in the students' knowledge, awareness and behavior related to eye health and safety. Parents reported no noticeable change in these areas as indicated by their responses to a survey. Recommendations for teachers, parents, care-givers, eye-care practitioners and their associated organizations to improve the eye health and safety of children are given.