Monitoring the technique of instillation of topical drops in the eye by the healthcare personnel in the Department of Ophthalmology of a tertiary care hospital: A cross-sectional study.

vatsala vats; Priyanka Gupta; stuti mangalam

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.1992

Authors

Dr. Vatsala Vats Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001. India
Dr. Priyanka Gupta Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001. India
Dr. Stuti Mangalam Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001. India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i9.1992

Keywords:

Instillation of eye drops, Hand hygiene/gloves, Uncapping of eyedrop bottle, Retraction of the lower eyelid, Instillation in the fornix, Contact of the bottle tip with the ocular surface

Abstract

Background
Correct instillation of eye drops is critical for achieving the desired therapeutic effects in ophthalmic care. The patient should also be informed about the technique for instilling drops in the eyes to achieve optimal results.

Aim: To assess the technique of instillation of topical drops by the healthcare personnel in the department of Ophthalmology of a tertiary care hospital

Method
This is a hospital-based, cross-sectional, observational study conducted over 6 months involving 180 healthcare personnel, including junior residents, medical interns, optometry interns, and nursing students. A self-structured checklist was used to assess the protocol followed while using eye drops, and the observation was recorded. The ophthalmic personnel were then taught to rectify the lacunae, and the assessment was repeated.

Results
Among 180 ophthalmic personnel observed, only 56 subjects adhered to the correct instillation technique at first assessment. This number improved to 141 after proper training. Among junior residents (n=15), correct technique improved from 9 at presentation to 15 post-training, with a statistically significant p-value of 0.02. MBBS interns (n=140) demonstrated a marked improvement from 38 to 106, yielding a highly significant p-value of 1.14 × 10⁻¹⁵. Optometrist interns (n=15) also showed significant improvement, with correct technique increasing from 6 students to 12 students (p=0.034). Although nursing staff (n=10) improved from 3 to 8 following training, the p-value of 0.059.

Conclusion

This study revealed the significance of monitoring the technique of instillation of drops among ophthalmic personnel. Proper audit and counselling help in inculcating the correct practice among healthcare personnel and patients.

Recommendations

This study highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and training of the healthcare team, ensuring strict adherence to standard guidelines for the instillation of topical eyedrops.

Author Biographies

Dr. Vatsala Vats, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001. India

Dr. Vatsala Vats is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences *. She specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology as well as neuro-ophthalmology. She is actively involved in optometrist training

Dr. Priyanka Gupta, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001. India

Dr. Priyanka Gupta is the corresponding author for this article. She is an Associate Professor Department of Ophthalmology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences. She specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology as well as the glaucoma services of the department. She is actively involved in nursing training at the hospital.

Dr. Stuti Mangalam, Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001. India

Dr. Stuti Mangalam is a junior resident in the Department of Ophthalmology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health Sciences

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