Evaluation of educational interventions on eye health for dietetic and pharmacy professions: a pre-post study

Victoria M Flood,Bamini Gopinath,Diana Tang,Helen Dinh,Jocelyn Bussing,Bronwyn Eisenhauer,Bandana Saini,George Burlutsky,Hadi Almansour

doi:10.1186/s12909-021-02905-3

Abstract

BackgroundWe piloted an educational intervention that aimed to enhance awareness about nutrition-age-related macular degeneration (AMD) links among practising and student dietitians then expanded the scope of this intervention to include general eye health, which was delivered to pharmacy students.MethodsA pilot intervention was conducted in 2019 at the Dietitians Australia Conference (Gold Coast, Australia) where practising and student dietitians underwent a 2-hour small group educational workshop on nutrition and AMD links. Pre-post questionnaires were administered to participants, with voluntary completion of both questionnaires an indicator of consent to participate in the intervention. The primary intervention outcome was a change in AMD-related nutrition knowledge pre-post intervention. A larger intervention was then conducted at the University of Sydney (Sydney, Australia) where pharmacy students underwent a 4-hour educational module to improve general eye health knowledge, as well as student perceptions and attitudes towards a pharmacists’ role in low vision care. Similarly, pre-post questionnaires were administered, with voluntary completion of both questionnaires an indicator of consent to participate in the intervention. The primary intervention outcomes were changes in total knowledge, total perception and total attitude scores pre-post intervention.Results(1) Among 10 accredited and 5 student dietitians, there was significant overall knowledge improvement (mean pre-post score: 7.07 ± 1.94 vs. 10.8 ± 1.01, p = 0.001) specifically around appropriate dietary advice, food sources of key AMD-related nutrients, and awareness of supplements. (2) Among 179 second-year pharmacy students enrolled in the ‘Pharmacy Practice’ Unit of Study (Bachelor of Pharmacy, University of Sydney), total eye health knowledge (6.25 ± 1.93 vs. 6.64 ± 2.0; p = 0.011) significantly improved, along with total perception scores (41.54 ± 5.26 vs. 42.45 ± 4.95; p = 0.004). Total attitude scores were not significantly different.ConclusionsThe pilot intervention improved relevant nutrition-AMD knowledge among practising/student dietitians. The modified intervention for pharmacy students also significantly improved general eye health knowledge as well as students’ perception of a pharmacists’ role in low vision care.

Highlights

We piloted an educational intervention that aimed to enhance awareness about nutrition-age-related macular degeneration (AMD) links among practising and student dietitians expanded the scope of this intervention to include general eye health, which was delivered to pharmacy students
High quality eyecare involves a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach [1, 2]. This approach is recognised in the care of patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy where patients are referred to podiatrists, endocrinologists and nutritionists, in addition to eyecare practitioners and general medical practitioners [2, 3]
Research literature and clinical practice guidelines[5] recommend smoking cessation and dietary improvements including regular consumption of dark green leafy vegetables [6], low glycaemic index (GI) foods [6,7,8], fish [4, 6, 9], as well as appropriate use of Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) nutritional supplements[10, 11] to reduce the risk of AMD development and progression

Summary

Introduction

We piloted an educational intervention that aimed to enhance awareness about nutrition-age-related macular degeneration (AMD) links among practising and student dietitians expanded the scope of this intervention to include general eye health, which was delivered to pharmacy students. High quality eyecare involves a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach [1, 2] This approach is recognised in the care of patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy where patients are referred to podiatrists, endocrinologists and nutritionists, in addition to eyecare practitioners and general medical practitioners [2, 3]. Support from additional health care professionals such as allied health care practitioners is warranted, to address modifiable lifestyle risk factors for eye disease and injury[1]. One example of this is in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible blindness [4]. Pharmacists in particular, have a clientbase that extends beyond those purchasing AREDS supplements such as clients seeking other eyecare medicines e.g. lubricating eyedrops, and clients seeking non-eyecare medicines or services who may present with low vision or blindness

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion