A study of the level of awareness of different Cadre of eye care providers among tertiary institution students in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The choice of a qualified eye care practitioner, a critical factor in eye care services, pre-supposes that the practitioner has the requisite training and skill. Often, lack of this knowledge among patients, relative overlap of functions among practitioners and attempts occasionally, to assume responsibility, has led to poor outcomes. Adequate patient information about eye care providers would reduce the time and money wasted from inappropriate consultations and possibly minimizes the ocular morbidity from such delays. The study is aimed at assessing the awareness of the various categories of eye care workers among students of tertiary Institutions in Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods: Structured questionnaire was administered on 460 students undergoing tertiary education in Ilorin, Kwara-State, Nigeria, chosen by stratified random sampling method. The demographic data, level of education, previous eye problem, care provider and knowledge of cadre of eye workers were provided. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 14 statistical package. Result: 282 (61.3%) of the respondents were unaware that different cadre of eye care workers exist. 161(35.0%) were sure of different cadre of eye workers with 65.8% more familiar with the opticians than any other cadre. About 50% who visited an eye care provider consulted with other cadre other than the Ophthalmologist. Conclusion: The knowledge of different eye care cadre among the students of tertiary Institutions in Ilorin is poor even among those who have had reasons to access eye care facilities. key words: Cadre, Ophthalmologist, Optometrist, Optician, Ophthalmic Nurse.