METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective record review of pre-school vision screening outcomes and hospital ophthalmology records with linkage to Growing Up in New Zealand cohort study data.
RESULTS: Of 176 children referred from vision screening, 21.6% did not attend a referral appointment. Of 138 children who attended a referral appointment, 21.0% did not attend one or more follow-up appointments. Ethnic differences were observed in attendance at referral appointments (attended Māori 13%, Pacific 22.5%, European/Other 64.5%; not attended Māori 26.3%, Pacific 28.9%, European/Other 44.7%; P = 0.04) and follow-up appointments (attended Māori 11.9%, Pacific 15.6%, European/Other 72.5%; not attended Māori 17.2%, Pacific 48.3%, European/Other 34.5%; P = 0.001). Vision screening outcome was significantly associated with letter naming fluency scores (P = 0.01) but not name and numbers scores (P = 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Non-attendance at referral and follow-up appointments limits the efficacy of vision screening, particularly for children of Māori and Pacific ethnicity. Children referred from vision screening achieve lower scores on letter naming fluency, a key predictor of reading ability in later childhood. Equity-based improvements are required to ensure that all children referred from vision screening receive appropriate follow-up eye care.
方法:对学龄前视力筛查结果和医院眼科记录进行横断面回顾性回顾,并与新西兰成长队列研究数据相关。
结果:从视力筛查中转诊的176名儿童中,21.6%的人没有参加转诊预约。在参加转诊预约的138名儿童中,21.0%没有参加一个或多个后续预约。在参加转诊任命方面观察到种族差异(毛利人参加了13%,太平洋22.5%,欧洲/其他64.5%;未参加毛利人的26.3%,太平洋28.9%,欧洲/其他44.7%;P=0.04)和后续预约(参加毛利人11.9%,太平洋15.6%,欧洲/其他72.5%;未参加毛利人的17.2%,太平洋48.3%,欧洲/其他34.5%;P=0.001)。视力筛查结果与字母命名流利度得分(P=0.01)显着相关,但与名称和数字得分无关(P=0.05)。
结论:不参加转诊和随访会限制视力筛查的功效,特别是毛利人和太平洋族裔的儿童。视力筛查转介的儿童在字母命名流畅性方面得分较低,儿童后期阅读能力的关键预测指标。需要基于公平的改进,以确保所有从视力筛查转诊的儿童都得到适当的后续眼部护理。