The Effect of Student-Run Vision Screenings on Ophthalmic Education and Recognition of Visual Impairment
Social Determinants of Health,
Vol. 4 No. 3 (2018),
2 October 2018
,
Page 117-123
https://doi.org/10.22037/sdh.v4i3.22316
Abstract
Objective: For many in the United States, standard health insurance does not cover eyecare, leading to lapses in care and exacerbations of pre-existing conditions. Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) recognizes the importance of ocular health and offers the opportunity to engage the community through student-run vision screenings. This study aims to assess the effect of medical student-run vision screenings in supplementing pre-clinical education and to review health fair data on common vision pathologies seen in Harlem, New York.
Methods: Pre- and post-surveys were administered to medical student volunteers to assess their comfort in performing a basic vision screening. Training was given in regards to screening protocols and applied at health fairs.
Results: 90% of medical students (n=20) indicated discomfort in performing a basic vision screening when solely relying on their preclinical coursework. In comparison, after a training session and use during a health fair, 100% (n=20) indicated that they were comfortable with performing a vision screening. 60% of health fair participants (n=193) met referral criteria in requiring further testing or follow-up care. 100% of participants had some degree of refractive error, with 6% (n=7) having concomitant color vision abnormality and 9% (n=11) with macular abnormalities.
Conclusion: Osteopathic medical students are better equipped to perform basic vision screenings and recognize visual disease with additional training and practice at health fairs. This engagement allows for early clinical experience, osteopathic outreach, and interprofessionalism. Furthermore, this provides an opportunity for community members to receive information that may guide future health decisions.
- vision screening
- medical student
- ophthalmic education
- visual impairment
- osteopathic medicine
How to Cite
References
References
National Eye Institute. Prevalence of Adult Vision Impairment and Age Related Eye Disease by State. The National Institute of Health 2016.
Eifrig DE, Cunningham RD, Aitken PA, Records RE, Barber JC, Gittinger JW, Jr. Teaching ophthalmology in medical schools. Arch Ophthalmol. 1990;108(10):1378-9.
Higginbotham EJ, Lippa L. Assessing the status of ophthalmic education 100 years after the flexner report. Arch Ophthalmol. 2010;128(12):1600-1. doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2010.280.
Jacobs DS. Teaching doctors about the eye: trends in the education of medical students and primary care residents. Surv Ophthalmol. 1998;42(4):383-9.
Shah M, Knoch D, Waxman E. The state of ophthalmology medical student education in the United States and Canada, 2012 through 2013. Ophthalmology. 2014;121(6):1160-3. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2013.12.025.
Burden A. Community District Needs. New York Department of City Planning. 2012;1:210-43.
Ting DS, Sim SS, Yau CW, Rosman M, Aw AT, Yeo IY. Ophthalmology simulation for undergraduate and postgraduate clinical education. Int J Ophthalmol. 2016;9(6):920-4. doi:10.18240/ijo.2016.06.22.
Harden RM. What is a spiral curriculum? Med Teach. 1999;21(2):141-3. doi:10.1080/01421599979752.
Young JQ, Van Merrienboer J, Durning S, Ten Cate O. Cognitive Load Theory: implications for medical education: AMEE Guide No. 86. Med Teach. 2014;36(5):371-84. doi:10.3109/0142159X.2014.889290.
Gower EW, Silverman E, Cassard SD, Williams SK, Baldonado K, Friedman DS. Barriers to attending an eye examination after vision screening referral within a vulnerable population. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2013;24(3):1042-52. doi:10.1353/hpu.2013.0134.
Owsley C, McGwin G, Scilley K, Girkin CA, Phillips JM, Searcey K. Perceived barriers to care and attitudes about vision and eye care: focus groups with older African Americans and eye care providers. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006;47(7):2797-802. doi:10.1167/iovs.06-0107.
Cheung NC, Greenberg PB, Anderson KL, Feller ER. Effectiveness of a medical student-organized community vision screening initiative. Med Health R I. 2010;93(8):239, 42-3.
MacLean K, Hindman HB. UR Well Eye Care: a model for medical student ophthalmology education and service in the community. Clin Ophthalmol. 2014;8:2397-401. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S71724.
Quigley HA, Park CK, Tracey PA, Pollack IP. Community screening for eye disease by laypersons: the Hoffberger program. Am J Ophthalmol. 2002;133(3):386-92.
Ivers RQ, Optom B, Macaskill P, Cumming RG, Mitchell P. Sensitivity and specificity of tests to detect eye disease in an older population. Ophthalmology. 2001;108(5):968-75.
Capozzi B, Chez A, Carpenter T, Hubert L, Hewan-Lowe L, Ozcan A et al. Osteopathic Medical Student Administered Smoking Cessation Counseling is an Effective Tool. N Am J Med Sci. 2016;8(4):187-90. doi:10.4103/1947-2714.179958.
Mohammed D, Turner K, Funk K. Pharmacy student involvement in student-run free clinics in the United States. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2018;10(1):41-6. doi:10.1016/j.cptl.2017.09.008.
Schutte T, Tichelaar J, Dekker RS, van Agtmael MA, de Vries TP, Richir MC. Learning in student-run clinics: a systematic review. Med Educ. 2015;49(3):249-63. doi:10.1111/medu.12625.
Sick B, Zhang L, Weber-Main AM. Changes in Health Professional Students' Attitudes Toward the Underserved: Impact of Extended Participation in an Interprofessional Student-Run Free Clinic. J Allied Health. 2017;46(4):213-9.
American Osteopathic Association. Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine. 2018. Available at http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/about/leadership/Pages/tenets-of-osteopathic-medicine.aspx. 2018.
- Abstract Viewed: 494 times
- PDF Downloaded: 306 times