title: Barriers, motivators and enablers for dispensing multifocal contact lenses in Mumbai, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the potential barriers, motivators and enablers in dispensing multifocal contact lenses (MFCL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two focus group discussions were conducted to design questionnaires regarding the prescribing habits for multifocal contact lenses (MFCL). Questions on potential barriers and motivators were included. The questionnaires were distributed among 133 eye care practitioners across Mumbai, India. Practitioners fitting one or less patient per month with MFCL completed the survey describing potential barriers, while those who prescribed more MFCL's per month completed the survey describing enablers and motivators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses from 102 practitioners were received. Most common potential barriers in prescribing MFCL were increased chair time (75%), lack of readily available trials (69%) and limitation in power range (63%). Lack of awareness among patients (90%) was the most common barrier from patients' outlook. Professional satisfaction (88%) and better business proposition (82%) were observed as main motivators while availability of the trials (84%) and correct patient selection (82%) were the major enablers. Graduate Optometrists felt dispensing MFCL did not offer a good business proposition (p=0.02). Experienced practitioners were observed to be least motivated (p=0.01) and believed that their patients found these lenses expensive (p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To enhance the MFCL practice, barriers like lack of awareness and limitations in power range must be addressed. Trial lens availability may motivate practitioners to prescribe MFCL. Further probing is required to understand lack of motivation among experienced practitioners.
authors.affiliation: International Association of Contact Lens Educators, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Nilesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thite
authors.affiliation: Dr. Doongerwala's Clinic, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Electronic address: optomukti@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ukti
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Bausch+Lomb, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Illinois College of Optometry, International Association of Contact Lens Educators, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jurkus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003261:Contact Lenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Barreras; Barriers; Enablers; Factores facilitadores; Factores motivadores; Lentes de contacto multifocales; Motivators; Multifocal contact lenses