School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, HKSAR, China.
Centre for Myopia Research, School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, HKSAR, China.
BMC Med Educ. 2024 Nov 21;24(1):1340. doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06350-w.
This study outlines the initiation of an interprofessional education (IPE) program designed for optometry and education students. The program aimed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and improve the management of eye health in children with special educational needs (SEN) - a vulnerable and underserved group.
This program incorporated lectures and workshops to impart essential knowledge about SEN and to develop the necessary attitudes and skills for conducting eye examinations. A key component involved vision screenings at two special education schools, where optometry (n = 43) and education students (n = 39) collaborated to serve 170 children with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Quantitative data was gathered pre- and post-program using a single-stage, five-level Likert scale. Qualitative insights were drawn from students' reflective writings to evaluate their learning outcomes, understanding, and confidence in managing eye health for children with SEN.
Of the participants, 37 optometry and 21 education students completed the survey (70.7% response rate). The survey results indicated significant improvements in understanding SEN characteristics (p ≤ 0.013) and increased confidence when conducting eye examinations for children with SEN (p < 0.007) after the training program. The analysis of reflective writings highlighted the program's beneficial impacts on students. They recognized the value of interprofessional collaboration, reported enhanced professional competence, gained deeper insights into their own and their peers' roles within multidisciplinary teams, and developed a strengthened sense of social responsibility.
This IPE program proved to be an effective method for enhancing optometry and education students' knowledge and confidence in managing eye health needs of children with SEN. The findings support the advocacy for continued collaborative efforts between healthcare providers and educators to ensure comprehensive care for this population. Such disciplinary collaboration provides positive evidence in early stages of training in both disciplines.
Not applicable.
本研究概述了一项专为视光学和教育专业学生设计的跨专业教育（IPE）计划的启动。该计划旨在促进跨学科合作，并改善对有特殊教育需求（SEN）的儿童的眼部健康管理，这些儿童是一个脆弱和服务不足的群体。
该计划纳入了讲座和研讨会，以传授有关 SEN 的基本知识，并培养进行眼部检查所需的态度和技能。一个关键组成部分是在两所特殊教育学校进行视力筛查，视光专业（n=43）和教育专业学生（n=39）合作，为 170 名轻度至中度智力残疾儿童提供服务。使用单阶段、五级李克特量表在项目前后收集定量数据。从学生的反思性写作中提取定性见解，以评估他们在管理 SEN 儿童眼部健康方面的学习成果、理解和信心。
在参与者中，有 37 名视光专业学生和 21 名教育专业学生完成了调查（70.7%的回应率）。调查结果表明，在培训计划后，学生对 SEN 特征的理解（p≤0.013）和对 SEN 儿童进行眼部检查的信心（p<0.007）显著提高。反思性写作的分析突出了该计划对学生的有益影响。他们认识到跨专业合作的价值，报告称专业能力得到增强，对自己和同伴在多学科团队中的角色有了更深入的了解，并增强了社会责任感。
该 IPE 计划被证明是提高视光专业和教育专业学生管理 SEN 儿童眼部健康需求的知识和信心的有效方法。研究结果支持医疗保健提供者和教育者之间持续合作的倡导，以确保为这一人群提供全面的护理。这种学科间的合作在两个学科的早期培训阶段提供了积极的证据。
不适用。
