International Journal of Nursing

Using a Qualitative Triangulation Method to Explore the Challenge of Myopia Prevention in School Children for the Role of School Health Nursing
Shu-Ching Chiu, Yueh-Chin Chung, Lee-Wen, Pai, Shu-Fang Chang

Abstract
Myopia prevention is difficult, as the number of people with myopia in East Asian countries continues to increase, while the average age of onset decreases. Objectives: to investigate the reasons for the difficulties in the prevention of school children’s myopia, and to analyze the role of school health nurses in the work of myopia prevention. Method: The study is a qualitative research. Data gathering by triangulation was employed to conduct in-depth interviews on planners, executors, and subjects of the myopia-related work. The research site is one of Taiwan’s cities with a high prevalence of myopia; data were gathered during the period of 2012-2013. Results: Analysis revealed that the causes of difficulty in myopia prevention in Taiwan include five aspects: features of the eyes, parents and other caregivers, children, education, and society. The roles of myopia prevention that school health workers play include screening service provider, activity organizer and sponsor, interdisciplinary collaborator, team worker, coordinator, statistician and case manager.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijn.v3n1a7