Ederer F, Krueger D E, Mowery R L, Connett J, Wentworth D
Am J Public Health. 1986 Feb;76(2):160-5. doi: 10.2105/ajph.76.2.160.
The Visual Acuity Impairment Survey (VAIS) pilot study was carried out in three large metropolitan areas of the United States to determine whether it would be feasible to conduct a large two-stage survey of the prevalence of visual acuity impairment and its causes. The study was conducted in conjunction with the Health Interview Survey (HIS), performed by the National Center for Health Statistics and the Census Bureau. In the first stage, a simple vision screening test was administered to 1,868 adults in their homes by specially trained Census Bureau interviewers. All those who failed the test, and a sample of those who passed it, were invited to a local clinic for a check on the accuracy of the screen and a detailed eye examination to establish the cause of the impairment. About 89 per cent of the HIS interviewees took the vision screening test in the home and agreed to have the results released, making it possible for the clinic to invite them for an examination. The principal obstacle to the success of the feasibility study was a low rate (less than 50 per cent) of participation in the clinic examination by the target population. Such low participation would leave the survey open to a serious question about its representativeness. The methods and findings of the pilot study are presented because the lessons may be of value to those attempting similar studies in the future. Suggestions are made for methodological modifications that may enhance the chances for success.
视力损害调查（VAIS）试点研究在美国的三个大城市地区开展，以确定对视力损害的患病率及其成因进行大规模两阶段调查是否可行。该研究是与由国家卫生统计中心和人口普查局进行的健康访谈调查（HIS）联合开展的。在第一阶段，经过专门培训的人口普查局访员在受访者家中对1868名成年人进行了简单的视力筛查测试。所有测试未通过者以及部分测试通过者被邀请到当地诊所，以检查筛查的准确性，并进行详细的眼科检查以确定视力损害的原因。约89%的健康访谈调查受访者在家中接受了视力筛查测试，并同意公布测试结果，这使得诊所有可能邀请他们前来接受检查。可行性研究成功的主要障碍是目标人群参与诊所检查的比例较低（不到50%）。如此低的参与率会使该调查的代表性受到严重质疑。本文介绍了试点研究的方法和结果，因为这些经验教训可能对未来尝试进行类似研究的人有价值。文中还针对方法改进提出了建议，这可能会增加成功的机会。
