J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024 May-Jun;61(3):172-178. doi: 10.3928/01913913-20231026-05. Epub 2023 Dec 19.
To explore the association between race and socioeconomic status on health disparities in pediatric eye care, characterize the status of diversity within the pediatric ophthalmology workforce, and propose potential solutions to improve access to vision care, particularly for children from vulnerable populations.
The major studies examining the socioeconomic and racial disparities in visual outcomes and the impact of diversity in the ophthalmology workforce were reviewed.
Currently, the pediatric ophthalmology workforce has limited racial diversity, and increasing the number of underrepresented in medicine providers has potential to improve access to pediatric eye care, particularly for underserved populations. Mobile eye clinics, school-based vision programs, and health literacy initiatives may engage communities to bring eye care directly to children and enhance follow-up.
Families with lower socioeconomic status may represent a vulnerable population facing significant access to pediatric eye care barriers, particularly for asymptomatic pediatric eye conditions. Emphasis on strategies that directly engage communities and bring free vision care to families should be given to improve disparities in visual health outcomes. Ophthalmologists and pediatric ophthalmologists should be aware of the current racial underrepresentation within the pediatric ophthalmology workforce, and the importance of workforce diversity in accelerating physician-patient concordance and access to eye care. .
探讨种族和社会经济地位对儿科眼科保健中健康差距的影响，描述儿科眼科医生队伍多样性的现状，并提出改善视力保健服务可及性的潜在解决方案，特别是为弱势群体的儿童。
回顾了主要研究种族和社会经济差异对视觉结果的影响，以及眼科医生队伍多样性的影响。
目前，儿科眼科医生队伍的种族多样性有限，增加医学服务中代表性不足的人员数量有可能改善儿科眼科保健的可及性，特别是为服务不足的人群。流动眼科诊所、学校视力计划和健康素养倡议可以使社区参与进来，直接为儿童提供眼科保健，并加强随访。
社会经济地位较低的家庭可能代表一个弱势群体，他们在获得儿科眼科保健方面面临着重大障碍，特别是对于无症状的儿科眼部疾病。应强调直接参与社区并为家庭提供免费视力保健的策略，以改善视觉健康结果方面的差异。眼科医生和儿科眼科医生应该意识到儿科眼科医生队伍中目前存在的种族代表性不足，以及劳动力多样性在加速医患一致性和获得眼科保健方面的重要性。
