Research and Information Center, American Optometric Association, St. Louis, Missouri.
Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas.
Optom Vis Sci. 2021 May 1;98(5):500-511. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000001688.
Planning for the effective delivery of eye care, on all levels, depends on an accurate and detailed knowledge of the optometric workforce and an understanding of demographic/behavioral trends to meet future needs of the public.
The purposes of this study were to assess the current and future supply of doctors of optometry and to examine in-depth trends related to (1) demographic shifts, (2) sex-based differences, (3) differences in practice behaviors in between self-employed and employed optometrists, and (4) the concept of additional capacity within the profession.
The 2017 National Optometry Workforce Survey (31 items) was distributed to 4050 optometrists, randomly sampled from a population of 45,033 currently licensed and practicing optometrists listed in the American Optometric Association's Optometry Master Data File. A stratified sampling method was applied to the population of optometrists using primary license state, age, and sex as variables to ensure a representative sample.
With a response rate of 29% (1158 responses), the sample ensured a 95% confidence interval with a margin of error of <5%. Key results include finding no significant differences between men and women for hours worked (38.9 vs. 37.5), productivity (patient visits per hour, 2.0 vs. 1.9), or career options/professional growth satisfaction with 65% for both. The data indicate a likely range of additional patient capacity of 2.29 to 2.57 patients per week (5.05 to 5.65 million annually profession-wide).
The optometric workforce for the next decade is projected to grow 0.6 to 0.7% more annually than the U.S. population. The study found additional capacity for the profession more limited than previously suggested. Findings also illustrate an evolving/equitable workforce based on sex, in terms of both productivity and satisfaction. The trend toward employed versus self-employed was marked with 44% reporting they are employed, up from 29% in 2012.
在各个层面上规划有效的眼科保健服务都取决于对验光师劳动力的准确和详细了解，以及对人口统计学/行为趋势的理解，以满足公众未来的需求。
本研究的目的是评估目前和未来的验光师供应量，并深入研究与以下方面相关的趋势：（1）人口结构变化，（2）性别差异，（3）自雇和受雇验光师之间的实践行为差异，以及（4）该专业内的额外能力概念。
2017 年全国验光师劳动力调查（31 项）分发给随机抽取的 4050 名验光师，这些验光师是从美国验光协会验光主数据文件中列出的 45033 名当前持照和执业验光师中抽取的。采用分层抽样法对验光师群体进行抽样，以主要执照州、年龄和性别为变量，以确保样本具有代表性。
在 29%（1158 名受访者）的回复率下，样本确保了 95%的置信区间，误差幅度小于 5%。主要结果包括，在工作时间（38.9 与 37.5）、生产力（每小时看诊量，2.0 与 1.9）或职业选择/专业成长满意度方面，男女之间没有显著差异，两者的满意度均为 65%。数据表明，每周可能增加 2.29 至 2.57 名患者（每年全行业增加 5.05 至 5.65 万名患者）。
未来十年，验光师劳动力的年增长率预计将比美国人口增长率高 0.6%至 0.7%。研究发现，该专业的额外能力比之前的预测更为有限。研究结果还表明，根据性别，劳动力在生产力和满意度方面都呈现出不断发展/公平的趋势。自雇与受雇之间的趋势明显，有 44%的人报告称他们受雇，高于 2012 年的 29%。
