title: Pilot study of contact lens practitioner risk-taking propensity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine risk-taking propensity of optometrists and the association with the volume of contact lens practice and prescribing profile. Other factors associated with high practitioner risk taking and larger volume contact lens practices were also investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four practitioners were recruited through Australian professional associations. Practitioners completed a risk-taking propensity survey and rated the importance of risk factors for contact lens-related microbial keratitis on prescribing decisions and wearer advice (prescribing profile). Demographics and the number of contact lens wearers seen per week were documented. Risk-taking propensity was estimated after adjusting for item difficulty using Rasch analysis, then scaled 0 to 100. Prescribing profile, practice type, practitioner age, and gender were tested for association with risk-taking propensity. Risk-taking propensity, practitioner age, personal contact lens wear, and the socioeconomic status of the practice location were investigated for association with the volume of contact lens patients with regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rasch analysis of the risk-taking questionnaire indicated good person separation and reliability (2.44, 0.86) but some item redundancy (1.69, 0.74). Risk taking (mean 35, range 0 to 71) was associated with increasing number of contact lens patients (p = 0.02). The perceived importance of risk factors (p = 0.9) and likelihood of discussing them with patients (p = 0.7) were not associated with risk-taking propensity. Risk taking (p = 0.02) and socioeconomic status of the practice location (p = 0.03) were predictors of higher volume contact lens practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practitioners who see a higher volume of contact lens patients tend to have higher risk-taking personalities. However, increased risk taking did not affect the perceived importance and type of advice given to contact lens wearers. Higher socioeconomic status of the practice location is also associated with larger volume of contact lens patients. This information gives insight into what drives higher volume contact lens practice within Australia and may have applications to the contact lens and wider optical industry.
authors.affiliation: Brien Holden Vision Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. n.carnt@brienholdenvision.org
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carnt
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keay
authors.forename: Mark D P
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Willcox
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stapleton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D009907:Optometry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057216:Propensity Score; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires