Tóm tắt Luận án Tiến sĩ: Nghiên cứu đặc điểm dịch tễ học tật khúc xạ ở học sinh tiểu học tỉnh Quảng Nam và hiệu quả một số biện pháp can thiệp (2023–2025)

Refractive errors, particularly myopia, represent a significant global public health challenge, with a rapidly increasing prevalence among school-aged children, severely impacting their learning and quality of life. The World Health Organization projects a substantial rise in affected individuals by 2050. In Vietnam, urban areas exhibit high rates, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions. Despite existing research, a systematic understanding of the epidemiological characteristics and the effectiveness of intervention measures specifically for primary school students in Quang Nam province remains limited. This study addresses this critical gap by investigating the epidemiological profile of refractive errors in 7-8 year old primary school children in Quang Nam and assessing the efficacy of various interventions aimed at slowing their progression among 7-9 year olds. The findings are vital for guiding evidence-based public health policies and school eye health programs.

Public health researchers, epidemiologists, education and health policymakers, school administrators, parents, and eye care professionals focusing on school eye health and myopia prevention.

This research provides a comprehensive investigation into refractive errors among primary school students in Quang Nam, addressing the lack of localized data and effective intervention strategies. It establishes baseline epidemiological characteristics and evaluates the impact of specific interventions to slow the progression of myopia. The study employed a two-phase approach. The first phase, a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in February-March 2023, focused on describing the epidemiological features of refractive errors in 7-8 year old students across five primary schools in Quang Nam, using a minimum sample size of 1139 students. The second phase, a community intervention study with a control group spanning from May 2023 to April 2025, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in 7-9 year old students. This phase adopted a minimum sample size of 253 students per group. The intervention model was theoretically grounded in the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework, focusing on predisposing factors (student knowledge, attitudes, behaviors regarding posture, digital device use, outdoor activities), enabling factors (school health services, hygiene, optimal lighting, policy), and reinforcing factors (school administration, teachers, parents, peers). This pioneering work in Quang Nam not only builds a robust quantitative database on refractive error prevalence and associated risk factors but also innovatively applies the PRECEDE-PROCEED model combined with Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis to quantify the impact of behavioral and environmental interventions. The findings clarify the interplay of genetic factors, school lighting, and digital device use. Practically, it develops and implements a community intervention model encompassing vision health education, improved school hygiene, and modified learning behaviors. The research yields critical scientific and practical evidence, directly informing and strengthening school eye health programs and policies for the 2025-2030 period, aiming to curb the rising trend of refractive errors in this vulnerable population.