Exploring Service Users’ Experiences of a Community-Based Intervention to Improve Follow-Up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal: Qualitative Study

Abstract BackgroundFollow-up to eye care services for children, especially in the context of Nepal, is essential for ensuring a continuum of care. Hence, as a continued effort, we designed this study to explore the service users’ experience of a community-based intervention to...

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Main Authors: Manisha Shrestha, Gopal Bhandari, Sadhan Bhandari, Gudlavalleti Venkata Satyanarayana Murthy, Ruchi Priya, Binod Pandey, Daya Shankar Chaudhary, Puspa Giri, Sureshkumar Kamalakannan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-06-01
Series:JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Online Access:https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2025/1/e65023
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author Manisha Shrestha
Gopal Bhandari
Sadhan Bhandari
Gudlavalleti Venkata Satyanarayana Murthy
Ruchi Priya
Binod Pandey
Daya Shankar Chaudhary
Puspa Giri
Sureshkumar Kamalakannan
author_facet Manisha Shrestha
Gopal Bhandari
Sadhan Bhandari
Gudlavalleti Venkata Satyanarayana Murthy
Ruchi Priya
Binod Pandey
Daya Shankar Chaudhary
Puspa Giri
Sureshkumar Kamalakannan
author_sort Manisha Shrestha
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundFollow-up to eye care services for children, especially in the context of Nepal, is essential for ensuring a continuum of care. Hence, as a continued effort, we designed this study to explore the service users’ experience of a community-based intervention to improve follow-up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital (BEH) in Nepal. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore service users’ experiences and perceptions of the community-based follow-up intervention for eye care services implemented by BEH in Nepal. MethodsA qualitative study using an in-depth interview approach was used. Participants were purposively selected for this research study. Participants who were part of a quasi-experimental study conducted to improve follow-up services in BEH and their service catchment area were chosen. Participants who had not attended even a single follow-up visit and participants who attended at least one follow-up were recruited for this qualitative study. Based on the distance from the base hospital and the follow-up status, 65 participants were initially found eligible for the qualitative study. However, only 17 participants were available and consented. Topic guides were developed for the purpose of in-depth interviews specifically for participants who had not attended even the first follow-up visits and those who attended at least one follow-up visit. A total of 2 ophthalmic assistants, who were not a part of the main intervention study, conducted the interviews. ResultsIn total, 17 service users whose children were receiving services from BEH participated in the qualitative study. We identified 4 key themes that provided invaluable information about the barriers and facilitators to follow-up as well as the experiences (positive or negative) of the participants that need to be considered in any future initiatives to improve follow-up in Nepal. ConclusionsThis study highlights the need for systematic development of interventions to address the unmet need for eye care services in the community through innovative, scalable solutions. As a next step, the BEH team will be working to develop such scalable solutions for Nepal. Such interventions will also need to be optimized for similar settings and countries to meet the goals of universal health coverage, vision 2030, and sustainable development goals worldwide.
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spelling doaj-art-aee84f3358234a71ae7fed8ddfbb74d22025-08-20T03:28:52ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Pediatrics and Parenting2561-67222025-06-018e65023e6502310.2196/65023Exploring Service Users’ Experiences of a Community-Based Intervention to Improve Follow-Up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal: Qualitative StudyManisha Shresthahttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2498-5401Gopal Bhandarihttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-9452-8874Sadhan Bhandarihttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-0935-0325Gudlavalleti Venkata Satyanarayana Murthyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-5695-866XRuchi Priyahttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-2953-2559Binod Pandeyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-3593-0588Daya Shankar Chaudharyhttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4205-8580Puspa Girihttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2777-1836Sureshkumar Kamalakannanhttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-4407-7838 Abstract BackgroundFollow-up to eye care services for children, especially in the context of Nepal, is essential for ensuring a continuum of care. Hence, as a continued effort, we designed this study to explore the service users’ experience of a community-based intervention to improve follow-up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital (BEH) in Nepal. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore service users’ experiences and perceptions of the community-based follow-up intervention for eye care services implemented by BEH in Nepal. MethodsA qualitative study using an in-depth interview approach was used. Participants were purposively selected for this research study. Participants who were part of a quasi-experimental study conducted to improve follow-up services in BEH and their service catchment area were chosen. Participants who had not attended even a single follow-up visit and participants who attended at least one follow-up were recruited for this qualitative study. Based on the distance from the base hospital and the follow-up status, 65 participants were initially found eligible for the qualitative study. However, only 17 participants were available and consented. Topic guides were developed for the purpose of in-depth interviews specifically for participants who had not attended even the first follow-up visits and those who attended at least one follow-up visit. A total of 2 ophthalmic assistants, who were not a part of the main intervention study, conducted the interviews. ResultsIn total, 17 service users whose children were receiving services from BEH participated in the qualitative study. We identified 4 key themes that provided invaluable information about the barriers and facilitators to follow-up as well as the experiences (positive or negative) of the participants that need to be considered in any future initiatives to improve follow-up in Nepal. ConclusionsThis study highlights the need for systematic development of interventions to address the unmet need for eye care services in the community through innovative, scalable solutions. As a next step, the BEH team will be working to develop such scalable solutions for Nepal. Such interventions will also need to be optimized for similar settings and countries to meet the goals of universal health coverage, vision 2030, and sustainable development goals worldwide.https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2025/1/e65023
spellingShingle Manisha Shrestha
Gopal Bhandari
Sadhan Bhandari
Gudlavalleti Venkata Satyanarayana Murthy
Ruchi Priya
Binod Pandey
Daya Shankar Chaudhary
Puspa Giri
Sureshkumar Kamalakannan
Exploring Service Users’ Experiences of a Community-Based Intervention to Improve Follow-Up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal: Qualitative Study
JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
title Exploring Service Users’ Experiences of a Community-Based Intervention to Improve Follow-Up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal: Qualitative Study
title_full Exploring Service Users’ Experiences of a Community-Based Intervention to Improve Follow-Up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal: Qualitative Study
title_fullStr Exploring Service Users’ Experiences of a Community-Based Intervention to Improve Follow-Up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal: Qualitative Study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Service Users’ Experiences of a Community-Based Intervention to Improve Follow-Up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal: Qualitative Study
title_short Exploring Service Users’ Experiences of a Community-Based Intervention to Improve Follow-Up at Bharatpur Eye Hospital in Nepal: Qualitative Study
title_sort exploring service users experiences of a community based intervention to improve follow up at bharatpur eye hospital in nepal qualitative study
url https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2025/1/e65023
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