Factors that influence the receipt of eye care.
OBJECTIVE
To better understand what factors influence the receipt of eye care so that screening and education programs can be designed to promote early detection and treatment.


METHODS
Twenty focus groups were conducted. Analyses entailed debriefing sessions, coding, and interpreting transcribed data.


RESULTS
Attitudes about eyesight and eye exams influence the receipt of preventive eye care. Limited knowledge about certain eye diseases and conditions was reported. Participants stated that their primary care providers did not communicate information with them about eyesight nor did they conduct basic eye screenings.


CONCLUSIONS
Improving provider-patient interactions and developing public health messages about eye diseases and preventive eye care can facilitate increased use of appropriate eye care services.
Alexander
Robert L
RL
Macro International Inc., Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. robert.l.alexander.jr@macrointernational.com
Miller
Nancy A
NA
Cotch
Mary Frances
MF
Janiszewski
Rosemary
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data