Towards an effective collaboration between the South Western Sydney Local Health District and local councils: insights from a qualitative study.

Background: Partnership between local government and local health districts is imperative, given their overlapping goals. However, the need for further evidence-informed actions to address health inequities remains. The effectiveness of such partnerships requires better insight into how local governments perceive partnerships with local health districts, and how well equipped and prepared they are to deal with the health equity opportunities and challenges.

IMI Impact of Myopia.

The global burden of myopia is growing. Myopia affected nearly 30% of the world population in 2020 and this number is expected to rise to 50% by 2050. This review aims to analyze the impact of myopia on individuals and society; summarizing the evidence for recent research on the prevalence of myopia and high myopia, lifetime pathological manifestations of myopia, direct health expenditure, and indirect costs such as lost productivity and reduced quality of life (QOL).

Culturally tailored tobacco control: Aboriginal community perspectives in Sydney, Australia.

Introduction: A community-based project was developed to support quit attempts and denormalise smoking in Aboriginal communities. This qualitative study evaluates the effectiveness of project strategies, messages and the partnership process, and explores impacts observed by Aboriginal community members, complementing findings from a quantitative evaluation.

Methods: The study comprised five focus groups (40 participants) and 14 in-depth interviews (with 15 community members).

Validity of self-reported anthropometrics in Arabic-speaking adults in Australia.

Issue Addressed: Body mass index (BMI) is generally accepted as a useful measurement for monitoring risk factors in adults. Although self-reported anthropometric measurements are deemed to be more cost-effective, its accuracy has been debated. While BMI based on self-reported measures may have to be relied on, accuracy of reporting such measures among culturally and linguistically diverse groups is unknown.

"Some say no, some say yes": Receiving inconsistent or insufficient information from healthcare professionals and consequences for diabetes self-management: A qualitative study in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Aims: To explore the information-seeking experiences of patients with Type 2 diabetes and how these influenced self-management behaviours.

Methods: We interviewed 18 patients with Type 2 Diabetes attending outpatient diabetes centers in South Western Sydney. Data were analyzed thematically.

Evaluating an Aboriginal tobacco social marketing project in Sydney, Australia.

Introduction: A partnership between three Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and a mainstream health service was formed to develop, implement and evaluate a comprehensive and culturally appropriate social marketing project which aimed to encourage smokers to quit smoking. The project also supported quit attempts and promoted denormalisation of smoking.

Methods: The project was evaluated through baseline (n = 427) and follow-up (n = 611) surveys carried out face-to-face with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander participants 18 years and older recruited through convenience sampling at community events and venues during 2010-2011 and 2015.

Cross-sectional study protocol for the Arabic Healthy Weight Project promoting active living and healthy eating among Arabic-speaking communities in South Western Sydney.

Introduction: The South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) is home to nearly 75 000 Arabic-speaking people. Of these, nearly three quarters are overweight or obese and suffer from a range of chronic diseases. To address this, the Health Promotion Service of SWSLHD will conduct a community-based overweight and obesity prevention intervention (Arabic Healthy Weight Project, 2018-2021) with Arabic community members aged between 18 and 50 years.

Effect of school eye health promotion on children's eye health literacy in Vietnam.

Health promotion intervention in schools is a useful strategy to improve students' health awareness. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of eye health promotion interventions on eye health literacy in school children in Vietnam. A piloted questionnaire was administered to 300 children from five secondary schools in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Vietnam at baseline and re-administered after the eye health promotion interventions.

Accuracy of vision technicians in screening ocular pathology at rural vision centres of southern India.

Background: There is paucity of data on the inter-observer agreement and diagnostic accuracy between a primary-care technician (vision technician) and an ophthalmologist. Hence, the current study was conducted to assess the accuracy of vision technicians, to screen potentially sight-threatening ocular conditions at rural vision centres of southern India and their agreement with an ophthalmologist.

Methods: In July to August 2010, patients presenting to seven vision centres in Adilabad district (Andhra Pradesh) were selected and screened in a masked manner by seven vision technicians followed by an examination by a consultant ophthalmologist.

Validity of Teacher-Based Vision Screening and Factors Associated with the Accuracy of Vision Screening in Vietnamese Children.

Purpose: To assess validity of teacher-based vision screening and elicit factors associated with accuracy of vision screening in Vietnam.

Methods: After brief training, teachers independently measured visual acuity (VA) in 555 children aged 12-15 years in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province. Teacher VA measurements were compared to those of refractionists.

Reasons for refusing cataract surgery in illiterate individuals in a tribal area of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Purpose: To assess the reasons for refusing cataract surgery in illiterate individuals in a tribal area of India.

Methods: A prospective study evaluated 1046 subjects who had undergone screening in eye camps and included 398 of 492 referred subjects with cataract who refused to seek cataract surgery. Subjects were assessed to elicit general and specific reasons for non-compliance.

Key factors determining success of primary eye care through vision centres in rural India: patients' perspectives.

Aim: This paper intends to discuss the patients' perspective on the determinants of primary eye care services from vision centers (VC) in rural India.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study design and interview method was used on 127 randomly selected patients who accessed the 4 VCs in 2007. Factor analyses and linear regression models were used to predict the associations with patient satisfaction.

Comparison of patient satisfaction with services of vision centers in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Aim: To compare the satisfaction of patients with the services of Vision Center services (primary eye care) in large village (s) and small village (s) in rural settings in Andhra Pradesh state, India.

Materials And Methods: We have administered standard questionnaires to randomly selected patients to assess patient satisfaction when assessing Vision Center Services. We used the Chi-square ( P <0.

An estimate of patient costs and benefits of the new primary eye care model utilization through vision centers in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Little or no work has been carried out in developing countries on costs to patients and patient benefits in accessing primary eye care services. The purpose of this study was to assess the indirect, direct, and overall costs of patients accessing vision care at vision center services (New Primary Eyecare Approach) as compared with the nearest private clinic. The authors used a standardized questionnaire and a paired sample t test to check the significance of difference of costs.

Barriers to accessing eye care services among visually impaired populations in rural Andhra Pradesh, South India.

Purpose: To understand the reasons why people in rural south India with visual impairment arising from various ocular diseases do not seek eye care.

Materials And Methods: A total of 5,573 persons above the age of 15 were interviewed and examined in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh covering the districts of Adilabad, West Godavari and Mahaboobnagar. A pre-tested structured questionnaire on barriers to eye care was administered by trained field investigators.

Awareness of glaucoma in the rural population of Southern India.

Purpose: To explore the awareness of glaucoma amongst the rural population of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Materials And Methods: A total of 7775 subjects of all ages, representative of the rural population of Andhra Pradesh, participated in the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study. The responses of subjects older than 15 years (n=5573) who completed a structured questionnaire regarding awareness (heard of glaucoma) and knowledge (understanding of disease) of glaucoma formed the basis of this study.

Smoking and its association with cataract: results of the Andhra Pradesh eye disease study from India.

Purpose: To investigate the associations between tobacco smoking and various forms of cataracts among the people of a state in India.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional epidemiologic study was conducted in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh (AP). A total of 10,293 subjects of all ages from one urban and three rural areas, representative of the population of AP, were interviewed, and each underwent a detailed dilated ocular evaluation by trained professionals.

Awareness of eye donation in the rural population of India.

Purpose: To determine the "awareness of eye donation" and "willingness to pledge eyes for donation" in the rural population of Andhra Pradesh, southern India.

Methods: A total of 7,775 subjects of all ages, representative of the rural population of Andhra Pradesh, participated in the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study (APEDS). Subjects older than 15 years were interviewed regarding awareness of eye donation and willingness to pledge eyes for donation.

Fear of blindness and perceptions about blind people. The Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study.

This study assessed the fear of being affected by illness and disability including blindness, and perceptions of the population towards blind people in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 11,786 subjects of all ages were sampled from 94 clusters in one urban and three rural study areas of Andhra Pradesh using stratified, random, cluster, systematic sampling to represent the population of this state. A total of 10,293 subjects of all ages underwent a detailed interview and dilated ocular evaluation.

Population-based study of spectacles use in southern India.

This study assessed the use of spectacles and its demographic associations in a sample representative of the population of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 11,786 subjects of all ages were sampled from 94 clusters in one urban and three rural study areas of Andhra Pradesh using stratified, random, cluster, systematic sampling. The eligible subjects underwent detailed interview and eye examination including dilated examination of the posterior segment.