P-41 Perceptions and experiences of six to sixteen-year-old school children in Barbados on wearing eyeglasses
Author(s):
W Jones, N Greaves, H Harewood, D Grosvenor
Year of Presentation:
2022
Objective: To explore the perceptions and experiences of school children in Barbados on eyeglasses and their use.
Design and Methods: A qualitative approach informed by an interpretivist paradigm and the philosophy of ontological relativism was used. Children from ages 6 - 16 years old in Barbados who were wearing glasses for 1 year or more were recruited from public and private paediatric eye clinics using purposeful sampling. Data were collected using semistructured, one-on-one interviews. These explored experiences associated with finding out spectacles were required, receiving glasses and being a spectacle-wearer. Data was analysed by thematic analysis with constant comparison, supported by Atlas.ti 9 software.
Results: Participants described various emotions on finding out they needed to wear glasses, perceptions that glasseswearers are “smart” and beliefs that using glasses could be a cure or harm. Emerging themes included: 1) Wearing glasses affects the social perspectives and emotional health of children; 2) Beliefs about glasses and visual health.
Conclusion: Children have a stake in how their visual health is managed. Clinicians should explore the paediatric patient’s emotions and beliefs about glasses when prescribing