Availability of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Allergic Conjunctivitis in Optometry in Colombia, 2010-2011

Abstract

Since the enactment of Act 372 of 1997, optometrists are enabled for the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies of the anterior segment of the eye. This must be supported by clinical care guidelines (clinical practice guidelines). It is unknown how optometrists diagnose and treat diseases of their competence and the clinical care guidelines. <em><strong>Objective</strong><em> to determine the percentage of optometrists who have clinical care guidelines, using control of allergic conjunctivitis as reference. <em><strong>Materials and methods:</strong><em> information about the frequency of use of clinical care guidelines, age of the professionals, geographic area of practice and work profile was obtained by means of an anonymous questionnaire. A univariate and bivariate analysis of the data was performed to explore the possible relationship between variables. <em><strong>Results:</strong><em> 180 optometrists were surveyed, 58.3% of whom do not use any guidance for handling allergic conjunctivitis. Those who do (<em>n</em>=35) use the protocols used by the healthcare institutions (IPS, for its initials in Spanish) where they work. <em>Conclusions and recommendations<em> Less than half of the optometrists (41.7%) have a clinical practice guideline (GPC, for its initials in Spanish) for controlling allergic conjunctivitis, and its use is not widespread among these professionals. It is necessary to constitute an entity that creates, compiles, adapts and distributes GPC of interest to optometry, seeking a better professional performance and to benefit patients.