OBJECTIVE: To identify popular beliefs regarding the treatment of senile cataract in patients enrolled in the community health programs on eye rehabilitation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using an interview questionnaire that was applied to 776 subjects drawn from a non-probabilistic sample in five cities of the state of São Paulo. The sample was made up of 47.2% males and 52.8% females, aged 50 to 96 years (average age 71.6 years). RESULTS: Of the total of subjects studied, 41.9% had never attended school, and 78.5% were no longer in the employment market. Most (85.1%) credited the sight restoration to cataract surgery. Among those unconvinced, 47.4% asserted that sight restoration depended only on God's will. A greater proportion of women than men (p 0.0000) believed in the association of cataract and menopause, maternity, and menstrual periods and they admitted using herbal and rose teas for treating cataract. CONCLUSIONS: Misbeliefs related to the causes and treatment of senile cataract were identified, most probably of sociocultural basis, indicating the need of education on the subject.

The School Ophthalmology Health Plan was developed in the State of S. Paulo from 1973 to 1976 in State government schools with a view to detecting the visual problems of school children, and providing them with proper care, backed up by educational activities, and go on to survey the existing ophthalmological situation. Through the decentralization of the Health and Education services' organization the work has reached all the administrative areas of the State of S. Paulo, with the participation of a large contingent of school personnel, and health technicians and specialists, as well as government and private entities and the community in general. Taking into account the methodology used in the Plan, this study analyses some aspects related to the range of the program, the administrative and teaching personel involved, and the identification and health care of school children's visual problems.

The preventive approach to schoolchildren's visual problems is presented, taking into consideration the levels of Public Health prevention (Leavell & Clark). The importance of health education in schools with regard to the promotion of eye health and the prevention of ophthalmological problems is indicated in the attempt at the adoption of appropriate individual behavior both on the personal and the collective level. The general outline of the program is briefly described with a concluding appeal for the maintance of its objectives and continued effective functioning, though already established as a routine service.

Its is presented a study on the teachers' perception of a training program directed to the identification and care of schoolchildren with health problems. The intention being to offer data useful for the planning of teachers' training programs for governmental sectors concerned with this subject. The population comprised 532 first-grade teachers of public elementary schools located in thirteen counties of the S.Paulo State (Brazil) in wich the "Integrated System of Medical Care for Schoolchildren" had first been implanted. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Results showed that 74.3% of the teachers considered themselves to be trained in health observation techniques and in health problem-solving measures. The orientation provided by the School Health Coordinator (SHC) covered from 70 to 100% of teachers working in the geographical areas mentioned. The relationship shown between the orientation provided by the SHC and a better performance in terms of the teacher's self-evaluations regarding his/her preparation is a fact that probably indicates the efficacy of the work of the SHCs. An increase in these actions at the state public school network level, enlarging the teacher's knowledge and understanding regarding his/her participation in school health programs is recommended.

The Sanitary Ophthalmology School Plan is in process in the State of S. Paulo, Brazil. It includes 1st grade primary school children, special classes and kindergarten of the government schools. The teachers play an important part in the programme as to the educational aspect and the visual acuity screening. This report presents an evaluation of the visual acuity test done by the teacher in comparison with the one carried out by the ophthalmologist. Both of them make use of the Snellen optometrical table. 1352 first to fourth-grade children from a primary school in the county of S. Paulo in 1975 were tested. Results were concordant in 80.86% of the cases. In 122 cases (9.02%) there was a difference of 2 lines in the results obtained by the teacher and the eye doctor; in 54 cases (3.99%) there was a difference of 3 lines. As greater differences were checked, the number of cases progressively decreased. This fact occurred as regards both eyes, showing a failure of those children in responding to the test, probably due to their difficulty of interpretation. The application of the visual acuity screening by a well-trained teacher is valid, as one of the ways of detecting school children who need eye examination.

Apresenta-se estudo sobre o preparo de professores para realizarem ações que visam à identificação e atendimento de escolares com problemas de saúde. Pretendeu-se oferecer subsídios para o planejamento de programas de treinamento de docentes aos setores governamentais interessados na temática. A população foi constituída por 532 professores da primeira série do primeiro grau, de escolas estaduais situadas em treze municípios do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, onde inicialmente foi implantado o "Sistema Integrado de Atendimento Médico ao Escolar". Utilizou-se questionário como instrumento de medida. Os resultados revelaram que 74,3% dos professores se consideraram atingidos pela orientação sobre observação de saúde e medidas para solucionar desvios de saúde. A cobertura na orientação transmitida pelos orientadores de ações de assistência ao escolar (OAE) variou, entre os municípios, nos limites de 70 a 100%. A relação entre o fato de o professor ter recebido explicações do OAE e o melhor grau na auto-avaliação de preparo, indica, provavelmente, eficácia do trabalho do OAE. Recomenda-se incremento de orientação na rede estadual de ensino, ampliando os conhecimentos sobre saúde e a compreensão do professor a respeito de sua participação em programas de saúde escolar.

OBJECTIVE: To identify popular beliefs regarding the treatment of senile cataract in patients enrolled in the community health programs on eye rehabilitation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using an interview questionnaire that was applied to 776 subjects drawn from a non-probabilistic sample in five cities of the state of São Paulo. The sample was made up of 47.2% males and 52.8% females, aged 50 to 96 years (average age 71.6 years). RESULTS: Of the total of subjects studied, 41.9% had never attended school, and 78.5% were no longer in the employment market. Most (85.1%) credited the sight restoration to cataract surgery. Among those unconvinced, 47.4% asserted that sight restoration depended only on God's will. A greater proportion of women than men (p 0.0000) believed in the association of cataract and menopause, maternity, and menstrual periods and they admitted using herbal and rose teas for treating cataract. CONCLUSIONS: Misbeliefs related to the causes and treatment of senile cataract were identified, most probably of sociocultural basis, indicating the need of education on the subject.

Trata-se de avaliação da medida da acuidade visual pelo professor, comparativamente àquela efetuada pelo médico-oftalmologista, utilizando-se ambos da tabela optométrica de Snellen. Éste estudo foi realizado em decorrência do Plano de Oftalmologia Sanitária Escolar (POSE), em desenvolvimento no Estado de São Paulo, que atinge escolares de 1ª série, classe especial e pré-primário das escolas estaduais de 1º grau, onde a atuação dos professores constitui fator básico da programação, principalmente no seu aspecto educativo e na verificação da acuidade visual. Foram testados 1.352 escolares de 1ª a 4ª série de 1º grau de um estabelecimento de ensino do município de São Paulo (SP) em 1975. Encontrou-se uma concordância de resultados em 80,86% dos casos. Com a diferença de 2 linhas entre os resultados do professor e do médico, constataram-se 122 casos (9,02%) e, com a diferença de 3 linhas, 54 casos (3,99%). À medida em que se consideravam diferenças maiores, decrescia progressivamente o número de casos discordantes encontrados. Observou-se que, à medida em que aumentava a desigualdade de aferição entre o professor e o oftalmologista, isto se verificava em ambos os olhos, o que evidencia uma dificuldade de interpretação daquelas crianças para responder o teste. Considerou-se altamente válida a aplicação do teste de acuidade visual pelo professor devidamente treinado, com a finalidade de triagem a nível de escola, como um dos aspectos para identificar alunos necessitados de exame médico-oftalmológico.

RESUMO Discutem-se alguns aspectos metodológicos relacionados à medida de variáveis em pesquisas de Oftalmologia em Saúde Pública. Apresentam-se três campos de investigação: técnico, administrativo e social. Considera-se que o campo social deva ser melhor conhecido, para a execução de programas de saúde ocular que envolvam conduta humana e apontam-se requisitos metodológicos para a medida de variáveis sociais.

A pesquisa de conhecimentos no campo da oftalmologia constitui processo dinâmico que requer divulgação, em especial por meio de relatos escritos. A redação científica vale-se da terminologia greco-latina. Discutem-se aspectos referentes à clareza, objetividade e precisão da escrita e oferece-se glossário sucinto desses termos aplicados a textos científicos.