Global mapping of optometry workforce

Kovin S. Naidoo, Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy, Priya Morjaria, Sandra Block, Ving F. Chan, Ai Chee Yong, Luigi Bilotto
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Abstract

Background: Vision impairment is a growing global burden issue, and appropriately trained optometrists are essential for its management. However, there is a shortage of optometrists worldwide, which hampers eye care planning. Few studies have addressed this shortage quantitatively.Aim: The study aimed to describe the distribution of the global optometric workforce.Setting: Global and country level.Methods: From February 2017 to May 2020, a standardised questionnaire in English was utilised to collect data on the global number and distribution of optometrists from key informants. Optometrists were categorised based on the World Council of Optometry’s guidelines, from levels two to four. Optometrist-to-population ratios were calculated for all countries and regions and compared with targets of 1:50 000 (in developing contexts) or 1:10 000 (in developed contexts).Results: An 80.9% response was achieved with responses from 123 of the 152 countries invited. Most (40.7%) key informants were academics. The total number of optometrists across 21 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) regions was 331 781. Sixty-six (53.7%) countries met the 1:50 000 optometrist-to-population ratio. There was a noticeable positive correlation (r = 0.7) between the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment and the optometrist-to-population ratios. Strong inverse relationships existed between a country’s gross domestic product and optometrist-to-population ratio.Conclusion: High-income countries met the target for optometrist-to-patient ratios, while low- to middle-income countries and low-income countries did not meet the targets. Low optometrist-to-patient ratios were strongly associated with a higher magnitude of blindness and vision impairment.Contribution: This article provides the first consolidation of the global optometry workforce.
验光人员的全球映射
背景:视力障碍是一个日益严重的全球性负担问题,训练有素的验光师对其管理至关重要。然而,全世界都缺乏验光师,这阻碍了眼科保健计划。很少有研究从数量上解决这一短缺问题。目的:本研究旨在描述全球验光人员的分布情况。环境:全球和国家层面。方法:从2017年2月至2020年5月,采用标准化的英语问卷,从主要举报人那里收集验光师的全球数量和分布数据。视光师根据世界视光协会的指南被分为二级到四级。计算了所有国家和地区验光师与人口的比率,并与1:50 000(发展中国家)或1:10 000(发达国家)的目标进行了比较。结果:在受邀的152个国家中,有123个国家的响应率达到了80.9%。大多数(40.7%)关键举报人是学者。21个全球疾病负担(GBD)地区的验光师总数为331781人。66个国家(53.7%)的验光师与人口比例达到1:50 000。失明和视力障碍患病率与验光师与人口比率之间存在显著的正相关(r = 0.7)。一个国家的国内生产总值与验光师与人口之比之间存在强烈的负相关关系。结论:高收入国家达到了验光师与患者比例的目标,而中低收入国家和低收入国家没有达到目标。验光师与患者比例低与较高程度的失明和视力损害密切相关。贡献:本文首次整合了全球验光人员。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
African Vision and Eye Health
African Vision and Eye Health Health Professions-Optometry
CiteScore
1.00
自引率
0.00%
发文量
46
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