Cruz Lasso Ana María
Independent researcher, Spain.
Br Ir Orthopt J. 2024 Dec 3;20(1):241-257. doi: 10.22599/bioj.359. eCollection 2024.
The absence of the orthoptic profession in Spain contrasts with its value and recognition in other countries. This study aimed to gauge Spanish ophthalmologists' interest in including and promoting orthoptists in paediatric and strabismus departments. Secondary objectives included assessing interest in requesting orthoptists, involvement in their training, and aligning their competencies with European standards.
Participants were recruited via WhatsApp and flyers during the 30th SEEOP Congress in May 2023 and invited to review a report on orthoptists' significance followed by completing a 12-question online survey. Profile questions were asked via multiple-choice options. Opinions on integrating orthoptists to enhance care quality, training involvement, and alignment with European standards were rated using a Likert scale. Open-ended questions captured themes, and comments.
Forty-two paediatric and strabismologists in Spain participated, mostly hospital-employed with advanced degrees, 90% supported integrating orthoptists into their teams, with 83% interested in having them in their workplace. Nearly 90% believed that collaboration between ophthalmologists and orthoptists would improve care quality and reduce waiting lists, and 83% supported promoting this within national medical organisations. Additionally, 90% advocated level 4 advanced European-standard training for orthoptists and 25% were neutral about participating in training orthoptists. Participants emphasised the importance of qualified orthoptists for treating eye movement abnormalities, distinguishing them from other eye healthcare professionals and advocating for collaboration rather than replacement.
This initial survey of paediatric ophthalmologists and strabismologists in Spain highlights support for orthoptists as allied health professionals, though garnering support for their training could be challenging. These conclusions should be considered in light of methodological, sample size, and resource limitations. The survey serves as a pilot for the future, suggesting improvements to explore the feasibility of introducing orthoptists in Spain.
西班牙缺乏视光学专业，这与该专业在其他国家所具有的价值和认可度形成反差。本研究旨在评估西班牙眼科医生对于在儿科和斜视科室纳入并推广视光师的兴趣。次要目标包括评估对聘请视光师的兴趣、参与其培训的情况，以及使其能力与欧洲标准保持一致。
在2023年5月举行的第30届西班牙眼科年会期间，通过WhatsApp和传单招募参与者，并邀请他们阅读一份关于视光师重要性的报告，随后完成一项包含12个问题的在线调查。通过多项选择题询问个人资料问题。使用李克特量表对视光师融入以提高护理质量、参与培训以及与欧洲标准保持一致等方面的意见进行评分。开放式问题收集了主题和评论。
西班牙42名儿科和斜视专家参与了调查，他们大多受雇于医院且拥有高级学位，90%的人支持将视光师纳入其团队，83%的人有兴趣在其工作场所配备视光师。近90%的人认为眼科医生和视光师之间的合作将提高护理质量并减少候诊名单，83%的人支持在国家医疗组织内部推广这种合作。此外，90%的人主张对视光师进行欧洲标准4级高级培训，25%的人对于参与视光师培训持中立态度。参与者强调了合格视光师在治疗眼球运动异常方面的重要性，将他们与其他眼科保健专业人员区分开来，并主张合作而非替代。
这项对西班牙儿科眼科医生和斜视专家的初步调查凸显了对视光师作为专职医疗专业人员的支持，不过要获得对其培训的支持可能具有挑战性。鉴于方法、样本量和资源方面的限制，应考虑这些结论。该调查为未来提供了一个试点，建议进行改进以探索在西班牙引入视光师的可行性。
