Comparative evaluation of qualitative performance of technical human resource in school eye health program

PURPOSE: To measure sensitivity and specificity of vision screeners in identifying children with visual impairment and positive signs and symptoms and assess association of effectiveness with individual characteristics of screeners and type of schools screened. METHODS: A total of 1096 children from age 5 to 15 years of age were screened. A total of 396 children were screened from a municipal school, 200 children from a government-aided school, and 500 children from a private school were screened. Four persons with basic 12th standard science qualification willing to be a part of school eye health program were selected who carried out screening in school children after receiving appropriate training. RESULTS: The two vision screeners who had a background of conducting community eye health programs and worked in eye hospital had 100% sensitivity and specificity for presenting visual acuity, squint detection, and blurring. The screening by these screeners was done in private and semi-private schools, respectively. The other two screeners with no such background conducting screening in government schools had 60% and 75% sensitivity in detecting presenting visual acuity, respectively. CONCLUSION: People with a background of organizing community eye health programs and those working in eye hospitals are the best candidates for being trained as new cadre of vision screeners with best results being obtained in private and government-aided schools.