Abstract
Purpose:
Use of Glaucoma Balls, “Glaucoball,”™ to educate health care professionals caring for a geriatric population at a senior care center.
Methods:
Using a set of glaucoma balls, “Glaucoball,”™ calibrated to 40 mm Hg, 20 mm Hg and 10 mm Hg, we visited a skilled nursing facility. Informed consent was obtained from nurses and caregivers at the skilled nursing facility. The ophthalmologist (GW) performed tactile finger tension to approximate the pressure of the volunteers, then instructed the volunteers to palpate their own eye pressure to match their eye pressure to the set of 3 balls. Normal eye pressure was explained to the volunteers. A questionnaire of seven qns was administered at the end of the demonstration. TM (12/1/2014)
Results:
n=30 volunteers; Age: 22-68 yrs; avg= 38.14; sd= 13.78 yrs.<br /> Job Position: RN: 8/30 (25%); Other RN: 12/30 (39.3%); Social Service Aide: 1/30 (3.6%); Dietary Aide: 1/30 (3.6%); Ward clerks: 8/30 (28.6%)<br /> Other RN= LVN, LPN, CNA, MA, NA<br /> Questionnaire Results: Have you heard of glaucoma: No 3/30 (10%); Yes 27/30 (90%); Have you heard of angle closure glaucoma: No 8/30 (26.7%); Yes 22/30 (73.3%); How often do patients complain of red eye: 1/week 4/30 (13.3%); 1/mo 3/30 (10%); 1/6 mo 10/30 (33.3%); few/yr 3/30 (10%); 1/yr 2/30 (6.7%); Never 7/30 (23.3%); How often do patients complain of eye pain: 1/week 2/30 (6.7%); 1/mo 4/30 (13.3%); 1/6 mo 10/30 (33.3.%); few/yr 2/30 (6.7%); 1/yr 3/30 (10%); Never 6/30 (20%); Did you know that angle closure glaucoma is in the differential diagnosis of red eye: No 14/29 (48.3%); Yes 15/29 (51.7%); Those who said No: 3 RN, 1 DSD, 1 SSA, 4 other RN, 5 others; Is this educational kit helpful: Yes 100%; Would you be interested in showing this to your family members: No 4/30 (13.3%); Yes 26/30 (86.7%). <br /> Number who chose correct ball: 26/28 (92.9%)
Conclusions:
The glaucoma ball educational tool kit, introduced at ARVO 2013, may be useful as a teaching tool in demonstrating intraocular pressure to nurses and caregivers in a senior care facility. While most volunteers have heard of glaucoma, 48.3% of the caregivers and 3 RNs did not know that angle closure glaucoma is in the differential diagnosis of the red eye. The overwhelming majority wanted to share this information with their family members. This small kit would aid in the eye self exam in geriatric health care facilities.