Boadi-Kusi Samuel Bert, Ntodie Michael, Mashige Khathutshelo Percy, Owusu-Ansah Andrew, Antwi Osei Kwaku
Discipline of Optometry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Department of Optometry, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Clin Exp Optom. 2015 Sep;98(5):473-7. doi: 10.1111/cxo.12291. Epub 2015 May 5.
The study was conducted to profile optometrists and optometric practices in Ghana.
An online survey was conducted among 146 optometrists, who were registered with the Ghana Optometric Association (GOA). It included questions on their demographics, equipment, ophthalmic procedures routinely conducted and the barriers to providing a full scope of optometric services.
Ninety registered optometrists (62 per cent) responded, their mean age being 28.97 ± 3.36 years. There were more males (68.9 per cent) than females and most had the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree, the profession's highest degree in Ghana. There were more practitioners in urban centres (71.1 per cent) and most practices had basic optometric instruments, such as direct ophthalmoscopes, slitlamp biomicroscopes and retinoscopes. Many optometrists routinely conducted direct ophthalmoscopy (100 per cent), slitlamp biomicroscopy (87.5 per cent) and contact tonometry (55.7 per cent); however, few provided contact lens (10.2 per cent) and low vision (9.1 per cent) assessments, with 76 per cent stating that it was due to the unavailability of low vision devices, poor sources of contact lenses (27 per cent) and perceived insufficient training (11.2 per cent). Many practitioners (97 per cent) reported the use of diagnostic pharmaceutical agents and therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (96.6 per cent). Most practitioners (52.9 per cent) preferred conferences for the delivery of continuous professional development over publications (26.4 per cent) and internet resources (12.6 per cent).
The data elicited in this study provide a basis for addressing the country's unmet eye-care needs and can be used to determine training and support guidelines for the profession.
开展该研究以了解加纳验光师及验光业务的情况。
对146名在加纳验光师协会（GOA）注册的验光师进行了在线调查。调查内容包括他们的人口统计学信息、设备、常规开展的眼科检查程序以及提供全面验光服务的障碍。
90名注册验光师（62%）做出了回应，他们的平均年龄为28.97±3.36岁。男性（68.9%）多于女性，大多数拥有验光博士（OD）学位，这是加纳该行业的最高学位。城市中心的从业者更多（71.1%），大多数诊所拥有基本的验光仪器，如直接检眼镜、裂隙灯显微镜和视网膜镜。许多验光师经常进行直接检眼镜检查（100%）、裂隙灯显微镜检查（87.5%）和接触眼压测量（55.7%）；然而，很少有人提供隐形眼镜（10.2%）和低视力（9.1%）评估，76%的人表示这是由于低视力设备不可用、隐形眼镜来源不佳（27%）以及认为培训不足（11.2%）。许多从业者（97%）报告使用诊断性药剂和治疗性药剂（96.6%）。大多数从业者（52.9%）更喜欢通过会议进行持续专业发展，而不是出版物（26.4%）和网络资源（12.6%）。
本研究得出的数据为满足该国未得到满足的眼保健需求提供了依据，可用于确定该行业的培训和支持指南。
