An evaluation of professional nurses' performance in the prevention of blindness and rehabilitation of the blind in region H of KwaZulu-Natal
Date
1998
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Abstract
Blindness in humans is one of the most feared disabling handicaps. Over the last two decades blindness has come to be regarded as a worldwide condition that is largely preventable or curable (Taylor, Katala, Munoz and Turner, 1991). Preventable blindness, however, is a bigger problem since throughout the world, health resources are mostly used for treatment rather than for prevention of disease.
The incredible role played by vision is never fully appreciated until it is compromised. The fact is that, if anything occurs to decrease or destroy vision, it also alters the efficiency of interaction with the environment. The lost vision can never be recovered.
The concern is that despite the fact that blindness is one of the common disabilities in South Africa, eye care is inadequately recognized as an important field of nursing. This is possibly due to the feet that eye disorders are not life-threatening. The South African Nursing Council 1997 statistics on post basic qualifications reveal that there are 455 registered nurses of all races holding on ophthalmic qualification. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health statistics (1994) also reveal that there are only 53 professional nurses in KwaZulu-Natal qualified in ophthalmic nursing. It has been established that even these nurses are practising in such a way that they cannot be in a position to be directly involved and / or specialise in eye care services. They therefore do no maximally contribute to the prevention of blindness and the rehabilitation of the blind. This further suggest that ophthalmic nursing is not a popular nursing sub-discipline.
The great concern is that deterioration in eye function may end up in total blindness which is often avoidable through preventive and promotive care. At community level, prevention of blindness requires that simple but adequate eye care and guidance on eye health be made available within the context of primary health care (Thylefors 1991). This vital work can be performed much better by nurses since their training and orientation is towards the community and the patient not just the disease (Perry & Tullo, 1990).
The clinics are the important initial points between the clients with eye problems and the health services. It is therefore significant that nurses working at the clinics be competent and skilled in the prevention of blindness and the rehabilitation of the blind.
The descriptive study was undertaken in KwaZulu-Natal region H. The purpose was to evaluate the professional nurses' performance in the prevention of blindness and rehabilitation of the blind.
The target population was the professional nurses practising in clinics. The sample size consisted of 50 professional nurses*
The approaches used for collecting the information were the observation checklists, questionnaires and patient interviews.
The study proceeded in three phases namely:
(i) the pre-intervention performance phase,
(ii) the intervention phase
(iii) the post-intervention phase
The findings revealed that both ophthalmic trained and non-ophthalmic trained professional nurses who practised in general clinics performed at a "below satisfactory" level. Their extent of performance was also low. The ophthalmic trained and non-ophthalmic trained nurses who practised in eye clinics performed generally at satisfactory level in most activities. However, on community-based nursing activities, the performance of all professional nurses was "below satisfactory".
The post-intervention performance of professional nurses who participated at a workshop was generally satisfactory.
The conclusions drawn from the study were that:
professional nurses, both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic trained, who practised in general clinics performed at "below level"
professional nurses both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic, trained who practised in eye clinics performed at "satisfactory leveF in most activities
all professional nurses* performance pertaining to community based eye care activities, was "below satisfactory"
a form of education, or training on eye care improves professional nurses' performance in the prevention of blindness and rehabilitation of the blind.
The recommendations from the study were that;
ophthalmic trained nurses be allocated in general clinics (at least one ophthalmic qualified nurse per clinic) to work along side with non-ophthalmic trained nurses, and that basic eye care facilities and equipment be made available in general clinics.
professional nurses working at the clinics including those with DCHAC to receive formal or informal training on eye care. Seminars, workshops, in-service education and short courses on eye care be undertaken to improve eye care services.
community based services on eye care should be encouraged.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Opthalmological Nursing Science, 1998.
Keywords
Blindness -- prevention and rehabilitation, Lost vision, professional nurses, Opthalmological