Global mapping of optometry workforce
Background: Vision impairment is a growing global burden issue, and appropriately trained optometrists are essential for its management. However, there is a shortage of optometrists worldwide, which hampers eye care planning. Few studies have addressed this shortage quantitatively. Aim: The study a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2023-10-01
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| Series: | African Vision and Eye Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/850 |
| _version_ | 1797641374149902336 |
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| author | Kovin S. Naidoo Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy Priya Morjaria Sandra Block Ving F. Chan Ai Chee Yong Luigi Bilotto |
| author_facet | Kovin S. Naidoo Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy Priya Morjaria Sandra Block Ving F. Chan Ai Chee Yong Luigi Bilotto |
| author_sort | Kovin S. Naidoo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Vision impairment is a growing global burden issue, and appropriately trained optometrists are essential for its management. However, there is a shortage of optometrists worldwide, which hampers eye care planning. Few studies have addressed this shortage quantitatively.
Aim: The study aimed to describe the distribution of the global optometric workforce.
Setting: Global and country level.
Methods: From February 2017 to May 2020, a standardised questionnaire in English was utilised to collect data on the global number and distribution of optometrists from key informants. Optometrists were categorised based on the World Council of Optometry’s guidelines, from levels two to four. Optometrist-to-population ratios were calculated for all countries and regions and compared with targets of 1:50 000 (in developing contexts) or 1:10 000 (in developed contexts).
Results: An 80.9% response was achieved with responses from 123 of the 152 countries invited. Most (40.7%) key informants were academics. The total number of optometrists across 21 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) regions was 331 781. Sixty-six (53.7%) countries met the 1:50 000 optometrist-to-population ratio. There was a noticeable positive correlation (r = 0.7) between the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment and the optometrist-to-population ratios. Strong inverse relationships existed between a country’s gross domestic product and optometrist-to-population ratio.
Conclusion: High-income countries met the target for optometrist-to-patient ratios, while low- to middle-income countries and low-income countries did not meet the targets. Low optometrist-to-patient ratios were strongly associated with a higher magnitude of blindness and vision impairment.
Contribution: This article provides the first consolidation of the global optometry workforce. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:44:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e002438677dc4a68874f0c387a0db5a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2413-3183 2410-1516 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:44:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Vision and Eye Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e002438677dc4a68874f0c387a0db5a72023-11-02T10:58:02ZengAOSISAfrican Vision and Eye Health2413-31832410-15162023-10-01821e1e810.4102/aveh.v82i1.850557Global mapping of optometry workforceKovin S. Naidoo0Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy1Priya Morjaria2Sandra Block3Ving F. Chan4Ai Chee Yong5Luigi Bilotto6Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; and Faculty of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of New South Wales, SydneyFaculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; and Brien Holden Vision Institute, SydneyInternational Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, LondonIllinois College of Optometry, IllinoisCentre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University of Belfast, BelfastCentre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, BelfastÉcole d’optométrie, Université de Montréal, MontrealBackground: Vision impairment is a growing global burden issue, and appropriately trained optometrists are essential for its management. However, there is a shortage of optometrists worldwide, which hampers eye care planning. Few studies have addressed this shortage quantitatively. Aim: The study aimed to describe the distribution of the global optometric workforce. Setting: Global and country level. Methods: From February 2017 to May 2020, a standardised questionnaire in English was utilised to collect data on the global number and distribution of optometrists from key informants. Optometrists were categorised based on the World Council of Optometry’s guidelines, from levels two to four. Optometrist-to-population ratios were calculated for all countries and regions and compared with targets of 1:50 000 (in developing contexts) or 1:10 000 (in developed contexts). Results: An 80.9% response was achieved with responses from 123 of the 152 countries invited. Most (40.7%) key informants were academics. The total number of optometrists across 21 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) regions was 331 781. Sixty-six (53.7%) countries met the 1:50 000 optometrist-to-population ratio. There was a noticeable positive correlation (r = 0.7) between the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment and the optometrist-to-population ratios. Strong inverse relationships existed between a country’s gross domestic product and optometrist-to-population ratio. Conclusion: High-income countries met the target for optometrist-to-patient ratios, while low- to middle-income countries and low-income countries did not meet the targets. Low optometrist-to-patient ratios were strongly associated with a higher magnitude of blindness and vision impairment. Contribution: This article provides the first consolidation of the global optometry workforce.https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/850optometristpractitioner-to-population ratiomappingoptometry workforceglobal distribution |
| spellingShingle | Kovin S. Naidoo Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy Priya Morjaria Sandra Block Ving F. Chan Ai Chee Yong Luigi Bilotto Global mapping of optometry workforce African Vision and Eye Health optometrist practitioner-to-population ratio mapping optometry workforce global distribution |
| title | Global mapping of optometry workforce |
| title_full | Global mapping of optometry workforce |
| title_fullStr | Global mapping of optometry workforce |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global mapping of optometry workforce |
| title_short | Global mapping of optometry workforce |
| title_sort | global mapping of optometry workforce |
| topic | optometrist practitioner-to-population ratio mapping optometry workforce global distribution |
| url | https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/850 |
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