Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study is to determine eye care visits which are an indicator of eye care service utilization by Tehran population and its determinants.MethodsThrough a population-based, cross-sectional study, 6497 Tehran citizens were sampled. All participants had complete eye examinations and an interview regarding demographic and socioeconomic status variables, past medical and eye history, and their previous and last eye care visits.ResultsAmong those sampled, 4565 people participated in the study (response rate of 70.3%). Among these participants, 34.7 % had never visited an ophthalmologist or optometrist (95% confidence interval [CI]: 32.4 to 36.9) and 43.2% had not seen an eye care provider in the last 5 years. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that men (OR = 1.30), younger participants (each year increase in age: OR = 0.98) and the less educated (each year increase in education: OR = 0.93) were more likely, and the visually impaired were less likely (OR = 0.41) to have neglected eye care.ConclusionA large proportion of the population, including those in the high risk group who require eye care, has never utilized any eye care service. These data suggest that efforts have to be made to better understand the causes and to optimize the utilization of the available eye care services in the population.
Highlights
The aim of this study is to determine eye care visits which are an indicator of eye care service utilization by Tehran population and its determinants
Standardizations for age and gender were made based on Tehran population distribution derived from the 1996 national census data
According to the guidelines issued by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, for those in the 30 to 39 year age group who are free of visual impairment and risk factors, an eye care visit is necessary at least every five years, and the maximum recommended period between eye visits shortens with age; for those over 65 years of age an eye care visit is recommended every 1–2 years [12]
Summary
The aim of this study is to determine eye care visits which are an indicator of eye care service utilization by Tehran population and its determinants. The key factors in achieving the goals of "Vision 2020" are eye care services and their utilization. Underutilization of available eye care services and associated factors have been studied in several communities [2,3,4,5,6,7]. Despite the available health care services in Tehran, there is no data concerning their utilization or its associated factors. Providing such information assists in the design of strategies to supply more services to those who have underutilized them. In the present (page number not for citation purposes)
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