Changes made to the New Zealand optometrists' scope of practice in 2005 and 2014 increased the range of therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (TPAs) that can be prescribed by optometrists. The public register of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board in May 2018 shows that of the 746 practicing optometrists, 551 (73.9%) are authorised to prescribe TPAs.
Last year, a retrospective analysis of de-identified TPA data from the Ministry of Health from 2014 to 2016 uncovered differences in the therapeutic prescribing trends of optometrists across the District Health Boards (DHBs). Larger numbers of TPAs, relative to population size, were prescribed in central Auckland (ADHB) and the Bay of Plenty, while lower numbers were prescribed in the Canterbury region.
This year, I have requested further data from the Ministry of Health and aim to extend the data analysis to a 10-year period from 2008 to 2017. This project will produce the first, comprehensive local data set on therapeutic prescribing trends of New Zealand optometrists.
Also this year, as part of my master’s degree with the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Auckland, I am conducting an anonymous survey of optometrists that aims to provide a more detailed overview of how optometry is practised in New Zealand. The survey contains questions on: demographic information; mode of practice; TPA endorsement status; future plans, regarding prescriber training; therapeutic prescribing patterns; and general health advice provided to specific patient groups. The research will provide useful information to ensure DHB communities across New Zealand are provided with appropriate ocular care. The information may also be applied to workforce planning. This project is being supervised by Associate professors Rob Jacobs and Nicola Anstice with Dr Jo Black as an advisor.
If you are a New Zealand optometrist, your support in helping to complete this survey would be greatly appreciated. Please access the survey via this link: http://tinyurl.com/optomtpa. Thank you.
