Abstract
Background: Contact lens (CL) is a modified lens generally preferred by young people as they provide a wider field of vision, reduce aberrations, do not fog, boost self-confidence and are more convenient for physical activity. Care and maintenance of CL is imperative to prevent complications such as Contact Lens Associated Red Eye [CLARE], papillary conjunctivitis, dry eye, corneal epithelial microcyst and microbial keratitis.
The practice of good communication skills in the medical profession is integral for compliance to medical advice and education improves knowledge of good practices in CL use.
The purpose of this study is to highlight the importance of good communication in influencing the knowledge about good practice of CL among medical students which in turn can ensure safe CL wear. This is not optimally achieved by simply giving a handout.
Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of an interactive talk and demonstration in establishing good practices of CL use compared to just giving the participant a handout alone using a pre-structured questionnaire for assessment.
Methodology: The study was a randomised controlled trial to assess the use and care of CL among 64 college students using CL. All students who were current CL users for correction of refractive power were recruited to the study, if they gave written informed consent. The sociodemographic data and relevant details of the participants were collected and the knowledge and practice questionnaire on CL use was administered. Each participant was allocated by permuted block randomisation, with allocation concealment, to one of the two arms of the study. Participants in Group A received the printed handout with interactive talk and demonstration regarding CL lens use and care while those allocated to Group B only received the CL information handout. The follow-up questionnaire was administered and the data was analysed using the Mann Whitney U test to see if there was a significant difference between the groups.
References
1. Lee YC, Lim CW,Saw SM, Koh D. The prevalence and pattern of contact lens use in a Singapore community CLAOJ Official Publ Contact LensAssoc ophthalmol. inc.2000 Jan 26{1}: 21-5. CLAO
2. Giri PA, Chavan WM, Phalke DB, Bangal SV. Knowledge and Practice of Contact Lens Wear and Care Among Contact Lens Users Medical Students of Rural Medical College, Loni, Maharashtra, India. Int J Biol Med Res. 2012;3(1):1385-1387.
3. Unnikrishnan B, Hussain S. Pattern of use of contact lens among college students: A cross-sectional study in coastal Karnataka. Indian J Ophthalmol 2009;57{6}:467-469.
4. Donshik PC, Ehlers WH, Anderson LD, Suchecki JK. Strategies to better engage educate and empower patient compliance and safe lens wear compliance. Eye contact lens 2007 ;33(6 Pt 2):430-433;434.
5. Hickson–Curran S, Chalmers RL, Riley C. Patient attitudes and behaviour regarding hygiene and replacement of soft contact lenses and storage cases. Contact lens Anterior eye J Br. Contact lens Assoc. 2011 ;34(5):207-15.
6. Wu Y, Carnt N, Stapelton F. Contact lens user profile attitudes and level of compliance to lens care. Contact lens Anterior eye J Br contact lens Assoc. 2010 Aug ;33(4):183-8.
7. Mahadevan G, Arunkmar S, Srushti D S, Suranagi P Ocular health education-Knowledge attitude and practice of contact lens usage among medical students J Educational Res& Med each 2014;2(2):26-8.
8. Mun Yee C, Xuan LY,Kavitha A, Govindarajan P, Ming TJ, Lin TK ,Thampypillai V. Knowledge practices and compliance during contact lens wear among students in Segi University, Kota Damansara, Selangor.SEGI Review ISSN 1985- 5672.2013:Vol 6.
9. Tajunisah I, Ophth M, Reddy SC, Phuah SJ. Knowledge and practice of contact lens wear and care among medical students of University of Malaya. Med J Malaysia. 2008 Aug;63(3):207-10.
10. Sidharam Janti, C. Charanya, AM Raja, Adnan Matheen, R Pandurangan. Knowledge attitude and practise of contact lens users among medical college students in Tamil Nadu. International journal of scientific study, Sept 2014:2{6}.
11. Ahmed G. Elzubier, Doctor Patient Communication; A skill needed in Saudi Arabia. J Family community Med. 2002 Jan –Apr;9(1);51-56. Piyush Ranjan, Archana Kumari, Avinash Chakrawathy. How can doctors improve their communication skills. Journal of Clinical and diagnostic Research. 2015 Mar 9(3): JE01-JE04.
12. Kelly B, Haskard Zoinierek, M. Robin Dimatteo; Physician Communication and Patient Adherence to treatment: a Meta-analysis; HHS Public Access Med Care. 2009 Aug; 47(8):826-834.
13. Ann King, Ruth B. Hoppe; Best Practice For Patient –Cantered Communication : a Narrative Review; Journal of Graduate Medical Education .2013 Sep;5(3):385-393.
14. Ajay Kumar Shukla, Veerendra Singh Yadav, Nira Kastury. Doctor- Patient Communication: an important but often ignored aspect in clinical Medicine: Journal, Indian Academy of Clinical Medicine July –September, 2010:11:3.
15. Sample size measured using nMaster Sample size calculation computer software, Version 2, produced by Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore. 632 002 Tamil Nadu India.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i3.203
