Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24560253›Full record

ArticleGlobal health action2014

Reducing visual deficits caused by refractive errors in school and preschool children: results of a pilot school program in the Andean region of Apurimac, Peru.

Sergio Latorre-Arteaga, Diana Gil-González, Olga Enciso, Aoife Phelan, Angel García-Muñoz, Johannes Kohler

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Global health action, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02655432 (Évaluation de l'Utilisation d'un Photoscreener Comme méthode de dépistage Des problèmes Ophtalmologiques pédiatriques en Haïti), which is not on this map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT02655432 withdrawnnot on this mapstarted 2016, after this paper: background citation

Évaluation de l'Utilisation d'un Photoscreener Comme méthode de dépistage Des problèmes Ophtalmologiques pédiatriques en Haïti

TypeobservationalSponsorUniversité de MontréalRan2016 to 2016Enrolled0ConditionsAmblyopia, Myopia, Hyperopia, AstigmatismArmsSpot photoscreener, Ophthalmologic evaluation, Cyclopleged refraction
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Access to school-based eye health programs: a qualitative case study, Bogotá, Colombia.Revista panamericana de salud publica = Pan American journal of public health · 2021
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Sergio Latorre-ArteagaEntretodos Foundation, Zaragoza, Spain; Public Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
Diana Gil-GonzálezPublic Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and History of Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Observatory of Public Policies and Health (OPPS), University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Diana.Gil@ua.es.
Olga EncisoCentro Oftalmológico Monseñor Enrique Pelach, Abancay, Peru.
Aoife PhelanDublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland.
Angel García-MuñozPublic Health Research Group, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain; Departamento de Óptica, Farmacología y Anatomía, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
Johannes KohlerCentro Oftalmológico Monseñor Enrique Pelach, Abancay, Peru.
University of Alicante · ESCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública · ES

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRefractive error is defined as the inability of the eye to bring parallel rays of light into focus on the retina, resulting in nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (Hyperopia) or astigmatism. Uncorrected refractive error in children is associated with increased morbidity and reduced educational opportunities. Vision screening (VS) is a method for identifying children with visual impairment or eye conditions likely to lead to visual impairment.

objectiveTo analyze the utility of vision screening conducted by teachers and to contribute to a better estimation of the prevalence of childhood refractive errors in Apurimac, Peru. Design : A pilot vision screening program in preschool (Group I) and elementary school children (Group II) was conducted with the participation of 26 trained teachers. Children whose visual acuity was<6/9 [20/30] (Group I) and ≤ 6/9 (Group II) in one or both eyes, measured with the Snellen Tumbling E chart at 6 m, were referred for a comprehensive eye exam. Specificity and positive predictive value to detect refractive error were calculated against clinical examination. Program assessment with participants was conducted to evaluate outcomes and procedures.

resultsA total sample of 364 children aged 3-11 were screened; 45 children were examined at Centro Oftalmológico Monseñor Enrique Pelach (COMEP) Eye Hospital. Prevalence of refractive error was 6.2% (Group I) and 6.9% (Group II); specificity of teacher vision screening was 95.8% and 93.0%, while positive predictive value was 59.1% and 47.8% for each group, respectively. Aspects highlighted to improve the program included extending training, increasing parental involvement, and helping referred children to attend the hospital.

conclusionPrevalence of refractive error in children is significant in the region. Vision screening performed by trained teachers is a valid intervention for early detection of refractive error, including screening of preschool children. Program sustainability and improvements in education and quality of life resulting from childhood vision screening require further research.

Indexed as

School Health ServicesChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMalePeruPilot ProjectsRefraction, OcularRefractive ErrorsVision ScreeningVisual Acuitypreschool childrenprimary school childrenrefractive errorsteachersvision screening

Identifiers

PMID24560253
PMCPMC3925804
OpenAlexW2016637633

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.