Effect of Bookmarks and E-Newsletter Inserts in Promoting Comprehensive Eye Exams in Young Children

Theme: Paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus
What: Paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus
Part of: Paediatrics I: Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus - Vision Screening to Retinoblastoma / Pédiatrie I: Ophtalmologie pédiatrique et strabisme - Dépistage du rétinoblastome
When: 6/1/2024, 04:15 PM - 05:45 PM
Where: Room | Salle 714 A

Abstract

Purpose:

Comprehensive pediatric eye exams are an opportunity to assess the structure and function of a child’s eye. When the crucial visual developmental period for children has passed undetected conditions may be irreversible and lead to long-term negative visual and psychosocial outcomes. The objective of our study is to raise awareness of the vision related-health resources available to parents of young children.

Study Design: 

A single field experiment including every school (n = 64) with junior and senior kindergarten classes in the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington (KFL&A) catchment area

Methods:

Bookmarks and e-newsletter inserts with URLs and QR codes directing parents to a landing page with information on comprehensive eye exam scheduling were distributed to all kindergarten students. Landing page visits from both modalities were tracked in order to understand which messaging, method, and school-factors impacted health-seeking behavior. Descriptive statistics were used to describe our study population. Independent and paired t-tests were used to understand how school related factors responded to the messaging modalities. 

Results:

The schools were divided into 3 groups (low n = 21, medium n = 20, or high index groups n = 21) based on their Educational Opportunity Index (EOI) scores. The Ontario Ministry of Education calculates the EOI scores based on census data on parental education, family income and lone-parent family status.The high index group is correlated with more external challenges affecting student outcomes. Our study population included a total of 3690 children: 16% lived in low-income households, 7% did not speak English as their first language, 3% were new to Canada from a non-English speaking country and 4% of parents did not hold a degree or diploma. Majority of the parents used the QR code to visit the landing page and group 2 had the highest engagement rate. 

Conclusion: 

Utilizing targeted messaging about comprehensive eye exams has the potential to improve health-seeking behaviors of parents. There may be an association between demographic factors such as parental education, family income and immigration status as our results found a difference in engagement between EOI groups. The findings from our study can be used to inform future public health initiatives and strategies to promote the importance of pediatric eye exams.  

Presenter(s)

Presenting Author: Michele Zaman

Additional Author(s):

Sarah Donnelly, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health Department

Alison Bradshaw, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health Department

Nicole Robitaille, Smith School of Business, Queens University,

Christine Law, Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's University,

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