Educational project assessed, disseminated glaucoma knowledge in Haitian church community
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
MARCO ISLAND, Fla. — A survey distributed in a Haitian church in South Florida proved useful for assessing glaucoma knowledge of the community, according to a poster at the Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium.
A subsequent educational intervention, followed by a second administration of the same survey, did not have a significant impact on overall knowledge level, “possibly due to poor knowledge retention,” Linda Celestin, COA, and colleagues from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute wrote in the poster.
Image: Adobe Stock
After a church service, the bishop distributed and read aloud the survey, and 121 participants answered the questions. The correct answers were then announced. After a few weeks, a research associate delivered a teaching symposium, and 1 month later, the survey was administered again. A similar number of participants (123) filled in the follow-up survey. Out of a maximum of 8 points, the difference in the mean score between the initial survey and the follow-up survey was not statistically significant. Only one question, related to the higher risk for developing glaucoma after the age of 60 years, received a significantly higher score in the follow-up survey.
People of African and Afro-Caribbean descents are at a higher risk for developing glaucoma early, and one-third of these populations present for diagnosis with end-stage disease, the authors wrote. Increasing glaucoma knowledge is crucial so patients seek early treatment.
“Further studies would focus on different educational modalities (video, printed material, etc) and their effect on increasing the community’s glaucoma knowledge,” the authors wrote.
Collapse
Celestin L, et al. Glaucoma knowledge assessment and dissemination using faith-based assembly in a South Florida Haitian church community. Presented at: Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium; Aug. 24-27, 2023; Marco Island, Florida.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts