Evidence‐based optometry and in‐practice research

Optometrists show rudimentary understanding of evidence‐based practice but are ready to embrace it: can barriers be overcome?

“…5 Now well-established in medicine, EBP is also increasingly being embraced in a range of allied-health disciplines, owing in part to its recognised importance in improving patient outcomes and cost effectiveness in everyday clinical practice. [6][7][8][9] Numerous studies have investigated health practitioners' understanding, attitudes, self-efficacy and barriers toward EBP in a range of healthcare disciplines. The majority of these studies have used qualitative or survey methods to gain an understanding of attitudes to EBP but relatively few of these studies have developed validated assessment tools 4,10 to measure EBP and self-efficacy.…”

“…The adoption and application of EBP in optometry has generated interest in recent years. 6,[11][12][13][14] Previously, we have shown that after patient's history, symptoms and signs, Australasian optometrists primarily use information from undergraduate and postgraduate education as a basis for clinical decision-making; 12 however, no qualitative study has fully explored optometrists' understanding of and attitudes toward EBP. As described above, qualitative methods consisting of interviews and open-ended questionnaires have proven effective at garnering information on attitudes to EBP and self-efficacy.…”

The Bates method, elixirs, potions and other cures for myopia: how do they work?

“…This begs the question of what is the cause of the improvements in vision reported by people who use these methods? It could be partly due to the placebo effect, in that randomized controlled trials have shown significant improvements in visual acuity and symptoms with placebo ‘treatments’ of glasses with no power or ‘sugar pills’ . Given that the placebo effect appears to be greater the more dramatic the treatment (four placebo sugar pills a day are more effective than two for eradicating gastric ulcers, salt water injections are a more effective treatment for pain than sugar pills), perhaps the regimen proposing the largest array of strenuous eye exercises would provide the largest placebo effect.…”

“…It is therefore not surprising that there are large numbers of available treatments. Those treatments that have been appropriately assessed to date have shown limited effectiveness in slowing the progression of myopia and many of the myopia ‘cures’ available on the internet (these include vitamins, fish oils, essential oils and herbs) have not been assessed. Could some of these alternative therapies work, and if so, how?…”

Attitudes and Barriers to Evidence-Based Practice in Optometry Educators

“…EBP is increasingly recognized in allied health disciplines including optometry. 2,3,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] However, recognition of the need for EBP is only one step toward it becoming a reality for a profession; this cannot occur unless practitioners are properly trained and know how to practice in this way. EBP requires a set of skills and knowledge including the ability to find and appraise evidence and to apply the best evidence at the point of clinical decision-making.…”