Practice scope and job confidence of two-year trained optometry technicians in Eritrea
Abstract Background A two-year optometry technician (OT) training was started in Eritrea in 2009 to fulfill the immediate human resource needs in providing refractive, dispensing and primary eye care services in vision centers. This study aimed to assess the current practice pattern and confidence l...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-019-1738-0 |
| _version_ | 1818336451985670144 |
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| author | Rajendra Gyawali Bharat Kumar Bhayal |
| author_facet | Rajendra Gyawali Bharat Kumar Bhayal |
| author_sort | Rajendra Gyawali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A two-year optometry technician (OT) training was started in Eritrea in 2009 to fulfill the immediate human resource needs in providing refractive, dispensing and primary eye care services in vision centers. This study aimed to assess the current practice pattern and confidence level among the OTs. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was developed and administered to all available OTs in January 2017. The OTs were identified through the Ministry of Health’s database. The questionnaire included questions on demographics, scope of practice and confidence level in the clinical practice areas. Results A total of 94 OTs had graduated by the end of 2016 and 71 (75.5%) of them were involved in the country’s eye care services. All the 70 OTs who completed the survey were working under the Ministry of Health in various regions of the country. The mean age of the OTs was 25.6 ± 4.7 years (range: 20 to 48 years) and 43 (61.4%) of them were male. Four out of six regions in the country lacked the required number of OTs for the recommended ratio of one refractionist to 50,000 population. All the OTs provided refraction services; however, they lacked experience in dispensing (62.9%), clinical examination of patients (35.7%) and low vision care (4.3%). While the OTs expressed confidence in refractive procedures, low levels of confidence were expressed for dispensing and primary eye care services. Conclusion OTs contributed to the primary eye care sector in Eritrea. However, high attrition rate, imbalanced distribution, a limited practice in core areas and low clinical confidence were the key challenges for this profession in this country. With better facilities, improved infrastructure and extended education and career opportunities, the two-year trained OTs could potentially serve further in the Eritrean eye care system. Further studies to evaluate the competency, job satisfaction and effectiveness OTs are recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T14:39:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ccbe9e07e384233b8ea9c128b4cac74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T14:39:32Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ccbe9e07e384233b8ea9c128b4cac742022-12-21T23:41:38ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202019-08-011911810.1186/s12909-019-1738-0Practice scope and job confidence of two-year trained optometry technicians in EritreaRajendra Gyawali0Bharat Kumar Bhayal1Department of Optometry, Asmara College of Health SciencesDepartment of Optometry, Asmara College of Health SciencesAbstract Background A two-year optometry technician (OT) training was started in Eritrea in 2009 to fulfill the immediate human resource needs in providing refractive, dispensing and primary eye care services in vision centers. This study aimed to assess the current practice pattern and confidence level among the OTs. Methods A self-administered questionnaire was developed and administered to all available OTs in January 2017. The OTs were identified through the Ministry of Health’s database. The questionnaire included questions on demographics, scope of practice and confidence level in the clinical practice areas. Results A total of 94 OTs had graduated by the end of 2016 and 71 (75.5%) of them were involved in the country’s eye care services. All the 70 OTs who completed the survey were working under the Ministry of Health in various regions of the country. The mean age of the OTs was 25.6 ± 4.7 years (range: 20 to 48 years) and 43 (61.4%) of them were male. Four out of six regions in the country lacked the required number of OTs for the recommended ratio of one refractionist to 50,000 population. All the OTs provided refraction services; however, they lacked experience in dispensing (62.9%), clinical examination of patients (35.7%) and low vision care (4.3%). While the OTs expressed confidence in refractive procedures, low levels of confidence were expressed for dispensing and primary eye care services. Conclusion OTs contributed to the primary eye care sector in Eritrea. However, high attrition rate, imbalanced distribution, a limited practice in core areas and low clinical confidence were the key challenges for this profession in this country. With better facilities, improved infrastructure and extended education and career opportunities, the two-year trained OTs could potentially serve further in the Eritrean eye care system. Further studies to evaluate the competency, job satisfaction and effectiveness OTs are recommended.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-019-1738-0Optometry techniciansVision impairmentEritreaPrimary eye careJob confidence |
| spellingShingle | Rajendra Gyawali Bharat Kumar Bhayal Practice scope and job confidence of two-year trained optometry technicians in Eritrea BMC Medical Education Optometry technicians Vision impairment Eritrea Primary eye care Job confidence |
| title | Practice scope and job confidence of two-year trained optometry technicians in Eritrea |
| title_full | Practice scope and job confidence of two-year trained optometry technicians in Eritrea |
| title_fullStr | Practice scope and job confidence of two-year trained optometry technicians in Eritrea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Practice scope and job confidence of two-year trained optometry technicians in Eritrea |
| title_short | Practice scope and job confidence of two-year trained optometry technicians in Eritrea |
| title_sort | practice scope and job confidence of two year trained optometry technicians in eritrea |
| topic | Optometry technicians Vision impairment Eritrea Primary eye care Job confidence |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-019-1738-0 |
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