ASSESSMENT OF OPTOMETRY SERVICES IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS OF THE WEST BANK - PALESTINE
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Date
2022-12-08
Authors
Enas Faysal Dawwas Abu Awwad
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Abstract
Introduction: optometry is the profession that provided vision and eye examinations and eye care services by optometrists, in addition to the role of providing awareness and eye health guidance. This study aimed to assess the optometry services provided in the Northern Districts of the West Bank (Jenin, Tubas, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalailyah, and Salfit).
Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study, was conducted between November and December 2021, selecting the target group consisting of all optometrists holding a diploma or higher who provide optometry services in the Northern Districts of the West Bank. The participants were 94 optometrists who answered a questionnaire prepared from three previous studies and filled out by the researcher in face-to-face interviews.
Results: (72.2%) of optometrists were females, (85.2%) of them had a bachelor's degree or higher, while the private sector provided (97.9%) of optometry services. Optometry services such as subjective refraction, contact lens fitting, and spectacles dispensing were the most provided. However, differences in services provided according to workplace and optometrists' qualifications were found. (14.8%) of optometrists in private optometry, centers provided cycloplegic refraction while (84.6%) of optometrists in hospitals. Furthermore, only (7.7%) of diploma holders and (26.3%) of BSc used diagnostic drugs. Insufficient continuing training was the first barrier faced by optometrists (93.6%), and it had significant associations with gender and qualification. While the economic and political problems barrier was a barrier for optometrists working in private optometry centers (93.8%) and those in other workplaces (38.5%). Optometrists recommended expanding the scope of optometry practice in Palestine and letting optometrists provide vision services in primary health care centers of PMOH.
Conclusion: Optometrists in Palestine practice the technology services category and visual function services category in the Model of Scope of Practice in Optometry by the WCO, in absence of ocular diagnostic and ocular therapeutic services categories. That requires expanding optometry scope of practice according to the quality of optometry education in Palestine, in addition to developing continuous training programs to deal with the insufficient training as a barrier faced by optometrists and prevent them from improving their skills.
Keywords: Eye care services; Optometrist; Optometry; Palestine; Scope.