Development of a new competency-based comprehensive training program for vision screeners.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Pediatric Eye Care

Background:

• School-based vision screening programs are crucial for identifying childhood ocular abnormalities.
• Effective training for non-health care professionals conducting these screenings is not well-defined.
• Early detection of vision problems can significantly improve a child's learning potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a standardized, competency-based training program for non-health care personnel performing pediatric vision screenings.
• To enhance the reliability and consistency of vision screenings in school settings.

Main Methods:

• A competency-based and experiential learning model was employed.
• The training comprised four phases: online modules, hands-on skill development, competency evaluation (Objective Structured Clinical Examination), and remediation.
• 170 students from McMaster University participated.

Main Results:

• 128 out of 170 trainees successfully completed the program.
• Only 9 trainees required additional remediation.
• Over 19,000 senior kindergarten students were screened using the new program.

Conclusions:

• The standardized, competency-based training model shows promise for widespread adoption.
• Further validation is needed to support the standardization of this training approach.
• A universal training method is essential for ensuring high-quality vision screening for all children.