TEACHERS QUESTIONNAIRE FOR VISION PROBLEMS - IS IT A HELP OR A HINDRANCE FOR SCHOOL-HEALTH SCREENING

The importance of early detection of vision problems in children is wi dely accepted. Screening by nurses in the first year of school is impo rtant in such early detection. The feasibility of using a questionnair e for teachers in place of the traditional screen was examined. In add ition, the effect of prior in-service training for teachers on the res ults of the questionnaire survey was assessed. The questionnaire had p oor sensitivity and specificity. Used as the sole screen, it would hav e resulted in the unnecessary referral of healthy children, and more i mportantly, children with visual defects would have been missed. Furth er, there was no improvement in the outcome when prior in-service trai ning on the questionnaire had been given. The questionnaire for teache rs, as given, was an unsatisfactory alternative to the screening by he alth professionals and was not supported by this study.