ArticleHuman resources for health2014
Task shifting for cataract surgery in eastern Africa: productivity and attrition of non-physician cataract surgeons in Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania.
Article in Human resources for health, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed.
- The contribution of non-physician clinicians to the provision of surgery in rural Zambia-a randomised controlled trial.Human resources for health · 2019Trial
- Monitoring and evaluation strategies for surgical task-shifting and task-sharing interventions: a scoping review.Human resources for health · 2026Article
- The future of cataract surgery.Eye (London, England) · 2025Review
- Situation analysis on the integration of refractive error services provided by optometrists into the national health services in Kenya.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Proposed task shifting integrated with telemedicine to address uncorrected refractive error in Kenya: Delphi study.BMC health services research · 2024Review
- Task Shifting and Task Sharing Implementation in Africa: A Scoping Review on Rationale and Scope.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Training Needs Assessment for a Bachelor of Science Program in Eye Care at the University of Rwanda.Rwanda journal of medicine and health sciences · 2021Article
- Observational
- Barriers to surgery performed by non-physician clinicians in sub-Saharan Africa-a scoping review.Human resources for health · 2020Article
- Article
- Ciliary sulcus implantation of intraocular lens in manual small incision cataract surgery complicated by large posterior capsule rupture.Experimental and therapeutic medicine · 2019Article
- Process evaluation of a National Primary Eye Care Programme in Rwanda.BMC health services research · 2018Article
- How to create a balanced eye team: an example from Malawi.Community eye health · 2018Article
- Bridging the human resource gap in surgical and anesthesia care in low-resource countries: a review of the task sharing literature.Human resources for health · 2017Review
- Results and safety profile of trainee cataract surgeons in a community setting in East Africa.Indian journal of ophthalmology · 2016Article
- Surgery for children in low-income countries affected by humanitarian emergencies from 2008 to 2014: The Médecins Sans Frontières Operations Centre Brussels experience.Journal of pediatric surgery · 2016Article
- Setting targets for human resources for eye health in sub-Saharan Africa: what evidence should be used?Human resources for health · 2016Article
- "Planning eye health services in Varamin district, Iran: a cross-sectional study".BMC health services research · 2015Article
- Mapping human resources for eye health in 21 countries of sub-Saharan Africa: current progress towards VISION 2020.Human resources for health · 2014Article
- Addressing the human resources for health crisis through task-shifting and retention: results from the Africa Health Systems Initiative Support to African Research Partnerships program.Human resources for health · 2014Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThis project examined the surgical productivity and attrition of non-physician cataract surgeons (NPCSs) in Tanzania, Malawi, and Kenya.
methodsBaseline (2008-9) data on training, support, and productivity (annual cataract surgery rate) were collected from officially trained NPCSs using mailed questionnaires followed by telephone interviews. Telephone interviews were used to collect follow-up data annually on productivity and semi-annually on attrition. A detailed telephone interview was conducted if a surgeon left his/her post. Data were entered into and analysed using STATA.
resultsAmong the 135 NPCSs, 129 were enrolled in the study (Kenya 88, Tanzania 38, and Malawi 3) mean age 42 years; average time since completing training 6.6 years. Employment was in District 44%, Regional 24% or mission/ private 32% hospitals. Small incision cataract surgery was practiced by 38% of the NPCSs. The mean cataract surgery rate was 188/year, median 76 (range 0-1700). For 39 (31%) NPCSs their surgical rate was more than 200/year. Approximately 22% in Kenya and 25% in Tanzania had years where the cataract surgical rate was zero. About 11% of the surgeons had no support staff.
conclusionsHigh quality training is necessary but not sufficient to result in cataract surgical activity that meets population needs and maintains surgical skill. Needed are supporting institutions and staff, functioning equipment and programs to recruit and transport patients.
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