What Role does an Optometrist Play in the Minds of Health Professionals?
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What Role does an Optometrist Play in the Minds of Health Professionals?
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Background: This research paper attempts to answer the question: To whom do medical
health professionals, working in various clinical settings, refer eye related diseases, injuries, and other visual problems? Methods: A survey will be given to a number of health professionals. Health professionals that will be surveyed include: primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. An eight-question survey was conducted online and shared via social media and word of mouth. The questions and answers were prewritten and multiple-choice responses were provided, except for one last free response question. The questions contained an eye-related diagnosis or patient complaint, and then asked the health provider to select the medical professional that they would refer their patient to. The possible referral source answers include: ophthalmologist, primary care physician, pediatrician, optician, or optometrist. At the end of the survey, the surveyor received an explanation of optometry and the full scope at which optometry can practice in the United States. Results: The majority of health providers selected ophthalmologists as their first choice referral for eye related issues. The only scenario in which optometrists received equal referrals with ophthalmologists was when a healthy patient complained of blurry vision. Conclusions: Our clinical goal for conducting this study is to make the medical community aware of the visual and medical healthcare that optometry is capable of providing to patients. If more medical professionals understand what optometry offers, optometry may begin receiving more referrals from other medical health professionals. |
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http://hdl.handle.net/2323/5913
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Author (aut): Humphrey, Marie Patrice
Author (aut): Kuzniar, Jamie Lynn
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This paper is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Optometry. 23 pages.
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English
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bitstream_15169.pdf
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3689138
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