Development and validation of an instrument to assess job satisfaction in eye-care personnel.

PURPOSE: The aim was to develop and validate an instrument to measure job satisfaction in eye-care personnel and assess the job satisfaction of one-year trained vision technicians in India. METHODS: A pilot instrument for assessing job satisfaction was developed, based on a literature review and input from a public health expert panel. Rasch analysis was used to assess psychometric properties and to undertake an iterative item reduction. The instrument was then administered to vision technicians in vision centres of Andhra Pradesh in India. Associations between vision technicians' job satisfaction and factors such as age, gender and experience were analysed using t-test and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: Rasch analysis confirmed that the 15-item job satisfaction in eye-care personnel (JSEP) was a unidimensional instrument with good fit statistics, measurement precisions and absence of differential item functioning. Overall, vision technicians reported high rates of job satisfaction (0.46 logits). Age, gender and experience were not associated with high job satisfaction score. Item score analysis showed non-financial incentives, salary and workload were the most important determinants of job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The 15-item JSEP instrument is a valid instrument for assessing job satisfaction among eye-care personnel. Overall, vision technicians in India demonstrated high rates of job satisfaction.

[Fundus screening by medical technicians]. / Fundusscreening durch Assistenzpersonal.

Ocular fundus photography allows detection of both ocular and systemic diseases. This study investigated the efficacy of a broad screening in a department of internal medicine using nonmydriatic digital fundus photography. For 8 weeks a medical technician was trained in using the camera as well as interpreting the photographs. The medical technician and an ophthalmologist evaluated the fundus photographs separately by using a self-developed questionnaire. The fundus camera was user-friendly and after several weeks of adjustment and practical application the medical technician was able to detect the majority of pathological fundus photographs. Out of 218 patients examined 148 (68%) were identified as pathological by the medical technician and 163 (75%) by the ophthalmologist (p = 0.0003). The medical technician missed 15 (7%) patients. Furthermore the diagnoses made by the medical technician were faulty. In summary an ophthalmological screening by a medical technician is feasible but the diagnosis still remains the responsibility of ophthalmologists. Such a compromise could facilitate the examination of a large number of patients and disclose previously unrecognized diseases.

Survey on allied health personnel in Canadian ophthalmology: the scalpel for change.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the recruiting and training needs for ophthalmic medical personnel (OMP), assess the value of their certification, and compare the ophthalmic practice productivity and performance of non-certified and certified OMP, as rated by both ophthalmologists and OMP. DESIGN: Comparative analysis. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and sixteen Canadian ophthalmologists and 98 OMP. METHODS: An invitation to complete an online survey on OMP recruitment, training, certification, and productivity performance in a clinical setting was sent to 1081 ophthalmologists and OMP. RESULTS: Fifteen percent of ophthalmologists and 31% of OMP completed the survey. Ophthalmologists (61%) reported difficulty hiring OMP; employee referrals was the best method (40%). Awareness of formal OMP training programs was high and 50% of respondents supported developing additional training programs; 55% of OMP were encouraged by their employers to obtain certification. Personal challenge and achievement (79%) and improved skills (71%) were the main reasons for OMP to obtain certification. The majority of OMP and ophthalmologists felt that certified OMP enhanced most practice productivity measures. Higher wages associated with certification were reported by 73% of respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Training of qualified OMP was identified as a need by ophthalmologists. Ophthalmic practices can increase their overall productivity by adding certified OMP to their staff.

Ophthalmic assistants, technicians and technologists. Current and potential utilization.

At the present rate of training, physician extenders will shortly make up a substantial fraction of eye care providers. However, there have not yet been any published studies on the impact of this group on the delivery of services. It is the purpose of this article to outline the training categories and requirements now available for physician extenders in ophthalmology and to obtain direct feedback from ophthalmologists regarding current utilization and potential need for such personnel. Readers are asked to complete a questionnaire, which will serve as the basis for a future report on this subject.