Presbyopia Screening by Community Health Worker in Bangladesh

NCT03001258 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 2015
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 2,001
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Demand in near vision correction in the community exist in the Bangladesh with a thin presence of eye- care. This study aimed to test the skill of BRAC service-providers in identifying presbyopia-cases, to ensure frequent services, meeting the community need. This was non-inferiority equivalence randomized intervention trial, done during February-June 2015, in six randomly selected sub-districts, where 2059 camp-patients were screened. BRAC Health-cadres; program organizers (PO), upgraded shasthya- shebikas (USS) and shasthya- shebikas (SS), were assigned to three different arms consisting two sub-districts through permuted-block randomization.105 eye-camps were organized with minimum 500 sample per arm. Sensitivity and specificity was calculated to understand screening performance. Screening reports were matched with the gold standard by recruiting refractionists.

Conditions

Presbyopia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Screening Accuracy

  The outcome was considered as accurate and coded as "1" if the screening result agreed with the gold standard. That is, if the screening result is positive for presbyopia and the refractionist also reported it as positive or the screening result is negative and the refractionist also reported as negative.

  The study duration was for 5 months, however, data was collected by organizing the eye camps over 2 weeks period

Study Arms (3)

PO (program organizers)

PO (program organizers): Employed by Brac as field level organizers. A two day presbyopia screening training were provided. A total of eight POs organized eye camps in two sub districts. POs were responsible for identifying the presbyopia patients through screening and SS assisted in organizing and mobilizing the community people for the eye camps, and glass sale (on the spot). Four camps were organized per day for five days by four POs in each sub-district. Thus a total of 40 eye camps were held in two sub districts by eight POs.

Other: Presbyopia screening training

USS (Upgraded Shashthya Shebika)

USS (Upgraded Shashthya Shebika): A new caddre of community health workers of Brac. A two day presbyopia screening training were provided. In this arm, 20 USSs were assigned in two upazillas to run the two camp-day i.e. screening patients and selling glasses during the total 40 eye camps.

Other: Presbyopia screening training

SS (Shashthya Shebika)

SS: Community health workers of Brac. A two day presbyopia screening training were provided. In this arm, the SS, undertook the screening of potential presbyopia cases. A total of 27 SS organized 25 eye camps in eight days in two upazilas.

Other: Presbyopia screening training

Interventions

Presbyopia screening training OTHER

The training module and the protocol were designed in a way that a layman with limited education could be trained for screening and could sell reading glasses without any hassle, accurately and responsibly. Training module included the general anatomy of eye, common vision problems, aetiologies, determination of proper acuity of vision, sales techniques of the reading glass, marketing of products and services, and management of inventory and referrals. All the providers who participated in the current study, had no prior experience/training of screening presbyopia before the intervention. Each of the intervention arm used letter acuity chart i.e. Snellen chart as it commonly used for as a test of visual acuity

PO (program organizers); SS (Shashthya Shebika); USS (Upgraded Shashthya Shebika)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 35 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Community people aged 35 or more, both male or female and having difficulty with near vision were invited for screening.

You may qualify if:

• Aged 35 or more and have problem seeing close objects

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals having diagnosed eye diseases that require regular treatment and was not willing to participate in the study were excluded

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Brac: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Presbyopia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Refractive Errors; Eye Diseases

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Anita Sharif Chowdhury/Research Fellow of BRAC Research and Evaluation Division
• Organization: BRAC

anita.sc@brac.net

+88029846448

Study Officials

• Anita Chowdhury, MPH

  Brac

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: ECOLOGIC OR COMMUNITY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Fellow

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 16, 2016
• First Posted: December 23, 2016
• Study Start: February 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2015
• Study Completion: June 1, 2015
• Last Updated: April 21, 2017
• Results First Posted: April 21, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-03