Observational studyBMC public health2025
Implementation outcomes of a school-based visual screening program using the peek tool in low-resource settings in Pakistan.
Observational study in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Compliance with post-school vision screening referral: a systematic review.BMJ open ophthalmology · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVisual impairment among school-aged children in low-resource settings can significantly impact their quality of life and education due to limited access to comprehensive eye care. This study reports outcomes of a school-based vision screening program using the Peek Capture smartphone app for vision screening and patient referral in two districts of Punjab, Pakistan.
methodsThis was a retrospective, observational study. We analyzed primary programmatic data collected from children undergoing vision screening by School Health and Nutrition Supervisors in the districts of Chakwal and Layyah in Punjab, from January 2022 to September 2024. The Peek Capture platform enabled real-time tracking of program data, including referrals and follow-ups. Primary outcome measures included referral rates and follow-up adherence rates, which were analyzed by age group and gender. Statistical comparisons were made using the z-test for proportions and the Chi-squared test of independence.
resultsAmong 151,456 children screened (54% female), 5.7% (n = 8,682) were referred to Rural Health Centers (RHCs), with higher referral rates in females (6.3% vs. 5.0%, p < 0.001) and older children aged 12–18 (7.9% vs. 4.2%, p < 0.001). Follow-up was completed by 47.1% (n = 4,091), with no significant gender difference but lower rates in older children (45.6% vs. 49.2%, p = 0.001). Among those who followed up, 73.3% (n = 2,999) were confirmed to have an eye condition. Glasses were prescribed in 71.5% of diagnosed cases. Hospital referrals were rare (1.8%) and did not vary by gender.
conclusionThis study demonstrates the feasibility of high-volume, school-based vision screening using a smartphone-based platform in low-resource settings, with strong diagnostic yield among those who followed up. However, the 47.1% follow-up rate highlights a critical implementation challenge. Modest age- and gender-related differences point to areas for targeted programmatic strengthening. Further research is needed to assess the cost-effectiveness and long-term impact of such programs.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.