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Akuffo KO, Osei Duah Junior I, Acquah EA, Abadua Mensah E, Andoh AKA, Kumah DB, Boateng BS, Boateng JA, Osei-Poku K, Eisenbarth W. Low Vision Practice and Service Provision Among Optometrists in Ghana: A Nationwide Survey. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38451021 DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2024.2317816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize practice patterns of low vision services among Optometrists in Ghana. METHODS The nationwide cross-sectional survey identified entities through the Ghana Optometrists Association (GOA) registry and utilized a semi-structured questionnaire to consolidate survey information that comprises practitioners' demographics, available services, diagnostic equipment, barriers to service provision and utilization, and interventions. RESULTS 300 Optometrists were identified, with 213 surveyed (71% response rate). About fifty percent (52.6%) were in private practice, and more than two-thirds (77%) did not provide low vision services. Most (≥70%) reported lack of assistive devices, and basic eye care examination kits as the main barriers to low vision service provision. Similarly, practitioners reported unawareness of the presence of low vision centres (76.1%), and high cost of low vision aids (75.1%) as the prime perceived barriers for patients to utilize low vision services. Continuous professional development and public education (89-90%) were suggested as interventions to improve the uptake of low vision services. After statistical adjustment, private facility type (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.35, p = 0.010) and lack of basic eye examination kits (AOR = 0.32, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with reduced odds of low vision service provision. Conversely, ≥15 years of work experience (AOR = 6.37, p = 0.011) was significantly associated with increased odds of low vision service provision. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results indicate inadequate low vision coverage and service delivery. Government policies must be directed towards equipping practitioners with equipment and subsidize patient cost of treatment to optimize low vision care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Isaiah Osei Duah Junior
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West-Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Eldrick Adu Acquah
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Elna Abadua Mensah
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Albert Kwadjo Amoah Andoh
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - David Ben Kumah
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Josephine Ampomah Boateng
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Kofi Osei-Poku
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Werner Eisenbarth
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Applied Science and Mechatronics, HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
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Akowuah PK, Arthur C, Otabil FA, Ofori CA, Osei-Poku K, Fummey J, Boadi P, Dadzie EE. Association between diabetes and keratoconus-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Ophthalmol 2021; 32:23-30. [PMID: 34761685 DOI: 10.1177/11206721211053167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the association between diabetes mellitus and keratoconus. METHODS PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for literature on the association between diabetes and keratoconus. The last literature search was conducted on April 4, 2021. A secondary form of the literature search was conducted by manually scanning the reference list of retrieved eligible articles. Included studies were cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional study design that used odds ratio or risk ratio to evaluate the relationship between keratoconus and diabetes. Egger's test was used to assess the presence of publication bias. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS Nine studies (six case-control and three cohort studies) published between 2000 and 2021 were included. The total number of keratoconus patients and controls were 27,311 and 53,732. respectively. Meta-analysis revealed no significant association between diabetes mellitus and keratoconus; the pooled odds ratio was 0.87 (95% confidence interval: 0.66-1.14; p = 0.314). There was significant heterogeneity (Q (df = 7) = 33.36, p < 0.001;I2 = 79.01, p < 0.001). Age of participants (p < 0.0001), study design (p < 0.001), and sample size (p = 0.024) were significant sources of heterogeneity. There was no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSION The current meta-analysis revealed no significant association between diabetes mellitus and keratoconus. Well-designed longitudinal prospective studies are, however, needed to investigate any association between diabetes mellitus and keratoconus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince K Akowuah
- Department of Optometry, 98763Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,College of Optometry, 165995University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christabel Arthur
- Department of Optometry, 98763Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Fredrick A Otabil
- Department of Optometry, 98763Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Kofi Osei-Poku
- Department of Optometry, 98763Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Jeremiah Fummey
- Department of Optometry, 98763Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Prince Boadi
- Department of Optometry, 98763Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Emmanuella E Dadzie
- Department of Optometry, 98763Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Akowuah PK, Adjei-Anang J, Nkansah EK, Fummey J, Osei-Poku K, Boadi P, Frimpong AA. Comparison of the performance of the dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-5) to the ocular surface disease index in a non-clinical population. Cont Lens Anterior Eye 2021; 45:101441. [PMID: 33836971 DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2021.101441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the performance of the dry eye questionnaire (DEQ-5) with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and further validate the DEQ-5 questionnaire. METHODS A population-based cross-sectional study conducted in Ghana. OSDI and DEQ-5 questionnaires were administered to participants. Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate the reliability of the OSDI and DEQ-5 questionnaires. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the discriminant validity of DEQ-5. Concurrent validity was evaluated using the Spearman correlation analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to describe the sensitivity and specificity of the DEQ-5 questionnaire for diagnosis of dry eye symptoms. Cohen Kappa was used to evaluate agreement between the two questionnaires. RESULTS The reliability of the overall OSDI and DEQ-5 scores were 0.919 and 0.819 respectively. The mean (SD) DEQ-5 scores for asymptomatic, mild, moderate and severe dry eye symptoms as defined by the OSDI grading were 3.05 (2.73), 5.13 (3.69), 7.65 (3.30) and 9.77 (4.16) respectively. There was a statistically significant correlation between total OSDI and total DEQ-5 scores (rs = 0.649, p < 0.0001). The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve for DEQ-5 was 0.835 (95 % CI: 0.796 - 0.875). A DEQ-5 threshold of 5.5 yielded maximum sensitivity (0.712) and specificity (0.827). The Cohen kappa using a the DEQ-5 total score threshold of 5.5 was K = 0.539 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION In conclusion, performance of the DEQ-5 questionnaire in discriminating symptoms of dry eye is comparable to the OSDI questionnaire. The DEQ-5 questionnaire is a valid measure of dry eye symptoms and can be used as a dry eye symptoms assessment tool in both clinical and epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince Kwaku Akowuah
- Department of Optometry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Joseph Adjei-Anang
- Department of Optometry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Ernest Kyei Nkansah
- Department of Optometry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Jeremiah Fummey
- Department of Optometry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Kofi Osei-Poku
- Department of Optometry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Prince Boadi
- Department of Optometry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Asafo Agyei Frimpong
- Department of Optometry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
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