Tailored Messages to Increase Eye Examination Behavior

The purpose of this project is to test two different types of health messages, one that is developed for a specific group (targeted) and the other that is more personalized to individuals (tailored), to see which is better at changing how often people have their eyes examined. We hypothesize that people who get the tailored messages will be more likely to get a dilated eye exam than people who receive the targeted messages.

Studies have shown that people are not getting their eyes examined on a regular basis, even though dilated eye exams can detect eye diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy early, before significant vision loss has developed. Early detection can lead to earlier treatment, which can save sight by preventing or slowing the progression of these eye diseases. In this project we designed, implemented, and are now evaluating tailored and targeted print health messages to increase eye examination behavior in an African-American population 65 years of age and older, a group at increased risk of glaucoma and diabetes.

Tailored newsletter that addresses each person's stage of change, barriers to getting eye exams, and knowledge of eye exams and eye disease

Targeted newsletter that contains messages about barriers to getting eye exams and presents facts about glaucoma and African-Americans.

Inclusion Criteria: African-American 65 years of age or older no dilated fundus exam in past 2 years Exclusion Criteria: appointment for dilated fundus exam scheduled no access to phone

Ellish NJ, Royak-Schaler R, Passmore SR, Higginbotham EJ. Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about dilated eye examinations among African-Americans. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 May;48(5):1989-94. doi: 10.1167/iovs.06-0934.

Ellish NJ, Royak-Schaler R, Higginbotham EJ. Tailored and targeted interventions to encourage dilated fundus examinations in older African Americans. Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 Dec;129(12):1592-8. doi: 10.1001/archophthalmol.2011.190.