Vision Screening in Children: The New South Wales Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening Program.

French, AN; Murphy, E; Martin, F; de Mello, N; Rose, KA

Vision Screening in Children: The New South Wales Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening Program.

French, AN Murphy, E Martin, F de Mello, N Rose, KA

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Publisher:: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila), 2022, 11, (5), pp. 425-433
Issue Date:: 2022-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	French, AN
dc.contributor.author	Murphy, E
dc.contributor.author	Martin, F
dc.contributor.author	de Mello, N
dc.contributor.author	Rose, KA
dc.date.accessioned	2022-11-23T22:23:28Z
dc.date.available	2022-07-12
dc.date.available	2022-11-23T22:23:28Z
dc.date.issued	2022-09-01
dc.identifier.citation	Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila), 2022, 11, (5), pp. 425-433
dc.identifier.issn	2162-0989
dc.identifier.issn	2162-0989
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/163696
dc.description.abstract	PURPOSE: The aim was to investigate universality of access, screening rate, and outcomes from the New South Wales (NSW) Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening (StEPS) over the period of 2009 to 2016. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study. METHODS: The StEPS program provides vision screening to 4-year-old children residing in NSW and is administered within Local Health Districts (LHDs). Visual acuity (VA) was examined by trained lay and nurse screeners using HOTV logMAR. Children who had VA <6/9-2 were referred to local practitioners while those with VA <6/18 were referred to public hospital pediatric ophthalmic outpatient clinics where available. Activity data were collected by NSW Health and screening rates determined from population projections of 4-year-olds per LHD based on adjusted 2014 Census data. To determine factors impacting screening and referral rates, a random effects panel analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 719,686 (96.4%) NSW 4-year-old children were offered StEPS vision screening between 2009 and 2016, 84% accepted and 564,825 children (75.6%) were screened. The screening rate increased from 67.3% in 2009 to 74.5% in 2016, with an 80% target reached for 3 consecutive years from 2013 to 2015. Of those screened, 19.2% were referred to an eye health professional or advised to have a vision retest in 12 months. This referral rate remained steady over the period studied, with little variation between metropolitan, and rural and regional LHDs. CONCLUSIONS: StEPS is an ideal service model for preschool vision screening providing coverage that is comparable to school-based screening programs and at an age likely to facilitate optimal treatment outcomes.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
dc.relation.ispartof	Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila)
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1097/APO.0000000000000558
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales
dc.subject.mesh	Referral and Consultation
dc.subject.mesh	Vision Screening
dc.subject.mesh	Visual Acuity
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Vision Screening
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Visual Acuity
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Referral and Consultation
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales
dc.title	Vision Screening in Children: The New South Wales Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening Program.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11
utslib.location.activity	China
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Teaching and Learning)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Orthoptics
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-11-23T22:23:26Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	11
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

PURPOSE: The aim was to investigate universality of access, screening rate, and outcomes from the New South Wales (NSW) Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening (StEPS) over the period of 2009 to 2016. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study. METHODS: The StEPS program provides vision screening to 4-year-old children residing in NSW and is administered within Local Health Districts (LHDs). Visual acuity (VA) was examined by trained lay and nurse screeners using HOTV logMAR. Children who had VA <6/9-2 were referred to local practitioners while those with VA <6/18 were referred to public hospital pediatric ophthalmic outpatient clinics where available. Activity data were collected by NSW Health and screening rates determined from population projections of 4-year-olds per LHD based on adjusted 2014 Census data. To determine factors impacting screening and referral rates, a random effects panel analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 719,686 (96.4%) NSW 4-year-old children were offered StEPS vision screening between 2009 and 2016, 84% accepted and 564,825 children (75.6%) were screened. The screening rate increased from 67.3% in 2009 to 74.5% in 2016, with an 80% target reached for 3 consecutive years from 2013 to 2015. Of those screened, 19.2% were referred to an eye health professional or advised to have a vision retest in 12 months. This referral rate remained steady over the period studied, with little variation between metropolitan, and rural and regional LHDs. CONCLUSIONS: StEPS is an ideal service model for preschool vision screening providing coverage that is comparable to school-based screening programs and at an age likely to facilitate optimal treatment outcomes.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/163696