Abstract
Aims
Investigations into glaucoma awareness have drawn on informed, clinic-based populations. The paper reports a section of findings from a larger study that aimed to elicit the perceptions of those potentially less informed in community settings.
Methods
A qualitative investigation used face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions with 48 African Caribbean participants outside the hospital eye-service. Interview data were transcribed and coded using manual and computer-aided methods. Inferences and interpretations were corroborated by discussion with expert advisors and community members not directly involved in the study.
Results
Positive attitudes to health promotion existed, but ‘eye health’ did not appear to be integral to individuals' health schemas. The capacity for primary eye care to enhance glaucoma knowledge appeared under utilised and inconsistent across modes of service delivery and was undermined by perceived conflicts of interest.
Conclusions
Enhancing reciprocal understanding between service users and ophthalmic practitioners in primary care is central to developing flexible, responsive local eye-care services. The study suggested useful foci for cultural self-reflection and self-awareness on the part of health professionals themselves, in relation to glaucoma detection. Areas for further research are identified.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the individuals and organisations who gave up their time to facilitate and participate in the study described in this paper. VC designed and carried out the qualitative research study, and was involved at every stage of preparation and presentation of this paper. PS conceived and is leader of the Birmingham ReGAE Project, and contributed extensively to the preparation and presentation of this paper. RB and PSp also contributed to preparation of this paper. PS is the guarantor. The following organizations funded the research: Birmingham Strategic Health Authority, Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust, City Hospital NHS Trust, Pfizer UK, and Birmingham Social Services.
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Ethical approval:
The qualitative research study described in this paper was approved by the Local Research Ethics Committee based at City Hospital NHS Trust, Dudley Road, Birmingham, B18 7QH.
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Cross, V., Shah, P., Bativala, R. et al. ReGAE 2: glaucoma awareness and the primary eye-care service: some perceptions among African Caribbeans in Birmingham UK. Eye 21, 912–920 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6702461
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6702461
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