Patterns of eyecare utilization by young Australian children: findings from a population-based study.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To report factors associated with childhood eyecare utilization in a random sample of 1740 Sydney schoolchildren aged 6, examined during 2003-4.

METHODS:
Information on use of eyecare services, defined as any previous consultation with an ophthalmologist or optometrist, was sought from parents. Children had comprehensive eye examinations, including visual acuity (VA), cover testing, cycloplegic refraction and dilated fundus examination.

RESULTS:
Prior ophthalmic or optometric assessment was reported by 465 children (29.2%), and was not associated with gender (p = 0.9), parental employment (p = 0.4) or home ownership (p = 0.9). Children of East Asian (odds ratio, OR, 0.7, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.5-0.9) or other ethnicities (OR 0.7, CI 0.6-1.0) were less likely than European Caucasian children to have been examined. Parent-expressed concern about their child's vision was associated with a 10-fold increased likelihood of previous eye examination (OR 10.2, CI 7.3-14.5). Complaints of eyestrain were associated with a 4-fold increase (OR 4.4, CI 3.2-5.9). Most children with VA < 20/40 in at least one eye (63.1%), amblyopia (80.0%) or strabismus (86.4%) had been assessed.

CONCLUSIONS:
One third of this childhood sample reported prior examination by an eyecare professional. Given that most children needing vision assessment had been examined and likely effects of parental motivation, this rate seems reasonable and appropriate.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Robaei, Dana (D); Wang, Jie Jin (JJ); Tan, Monika (M); Rose, Kathryn A (KA); Kifley, Annette (A); Mitchell, Paul (P);

Affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Hospital and the Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, Australia.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Ophthalmic epidemiology (Ophthalmic Epidemiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jun; vol 13 (issue 3) : pp 153-8

Dates: Created 2006/07/20; Completed 2006/08/29; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 16854768, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Australia
Child
Child Care - utilization
Child, Preschool
Delivery of Health Care - utilization
Female

Humans
Male
Myopia - diagnosis
Population Surveillance
Retrospective Studies
Vision Screening - utilization

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

Ocular morbidity in schoolchildren in Kathmandu. 29 Apr 2003
Eye care utilization patterns in Tehran population: a population based cross-sectional study. 18 Jan 2006
[Clinical characteristics and the optical correction of unilateral myopia in children] 30 Dec 1978
Portage guide to early intervention: cross-cultural aspects and intra-cultural variability. 30 Oct 1992
Optometry in the multidisciplinary health care setting. 29 Nov 1989
[Surgical treatment of congenital myopia in children] 30 Dec 1988
[Myopia as a syndrome] 8 Aug 1973
[Study of pseudomyopia] 29 Sep 1968
Visual acuity and binocularity in unilateral high myopia. 29 Sep 1980
The development of myopia up to the age of twenty and a comparison of refraction in parents and children. 29 Sep 1993

See 100+ related articles.