Prevalence and Associated Factors of Dry Eye Symptoms among Nurses in Palestine رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Background: Dry eye disease is caused by a reduction in tear production, an increase in tear evaporation, and inflammation. Working in hospital closed wards, night-time working shifts, and the use of electronic health records by nurses may increase the risk of dry eye symptoms. Objective: The purpose of the current study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of dry eye symptoms among the hospital’s nurses in North West Bank, Palestine. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Three hundred nurses from governmental hospitals in Palestine's North West Bank participated in the study. The prevalence of symptomatic dry eye disease was estimated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire on dry eye symptoms. Results: The percentage of dry eye symptoms prevalence among the study participants with mean age 34.6 years was 62 % with OSDI score > 13 (mild to moderate and severe OSDI status). Contact lenses wear, work shift and department were more likely to report significantly higher OSDI scores (p < 0.05). Furthermore, gender, smoking, and computer use was not statistically associated with dry eye disease (p > 0.05). Conclusion Symptomatic dry eye is one of common ocular disease among hospitals nursing in Palestine.