Addressing Barriers to Amblyopia Therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Addressing Barriers to Amblyopia Therapy for Children who are Socioeconomically Underserved
IRAS ID
293917
Contact name
Laura England
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background:
A study performed in Scotland reported that children affected by socioeconomic deprivation gain less from orthoptic therapy to treat weak vision, compared to children from homes requiring less input from support services. It has also been suggested that barriers to treatment exist for people affected by deprivation, including a reduced awareness of medical conditions and difficulty maintaining treatment or attending follow-up appointments.Need for research:
The above evidence demonstrates a health inequality. A need for further research has been recognised by the British and Irish Orthoptic Society.Aims:
1. Investigate whether the trend seen in Scotland is replicated in Greater Manchester and which social deprivation score can identify it best.
2. Gather parental opinion about barriers to treatment and how they can be reduced.Method of investigation:
Phase 1 involves two Greater Manchester boroughs: the one with the highest deprivation score (measured by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2019) and the one with the lowest score. School screening referrals from 2017-2018 will be examined, with vision outcomes and attendance rates in the first year of treatment related to different individual social deprivation scores. The score that shows most relationship to vision outcome will be identified.Phase 2 will concentrate on the five orthoptic clinics identified to have the worst deprivation scores. Parents of patients registered at the clinics will be invited to interviews to share their views on the barriers to amblyopia therapy. They will be shown a prototype educational video and asked whether treatment and appointment reminders would be helpful to improve concordance. The views shared will inform creation of a video and a reminder package, if this is deemed helpful.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
22/WA/0278
Date of REC Opinion
11 Oct 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion