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Research Title: Improving contact lens compliance

Supervisors:  A/Prof Nicole Carnt, Dr Kate Faasse, Prof Lisa Keay

Research Abstract     ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Up to 90% of contact lens wearers are non-compliant and around 1 in 5 contact lens wearers drop-out in the first year of contact lens wear.  Many attempts to improve dropout and compliance have been unsuccessful and one third of wearers don’t seem to remember any compliance recommendations at all.  Our novel method, which is new to the contact lens field, will automatically send bite-size chunks of personalised information direct to the wearers mobile phone.

This project aims to trial a modern, multidisciplinary approach by developing sequences of text messages. The text messages, derived from evidenced-based recommendations and habit change techniques, have been refined by a panel of optometric experts and contact lens wearer focus groups.

By conducting a double-blind randomised, controlled trial with 151 participants, we aim to examine the effect of text message interventions on contact lens compliance, dropout rate and wearer satisfaction. The test group will receive a sequence of personalised text messages over 6 months. We will collect data using a series of online self-report questionnaires and analyse using linear mixed models.

This project has the potential of scalable and cost-effective implementation, and its outcomes could be significant to many stakeholders including optometrists in practice and the contact lens industry.

Education

2020 – 2024 PhD candidate - Contact lens adherence and behaviour change.

UNSW Sydney, Australia

2019 – 2020 Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics

Australian College of Optometry

2016 – 2018 Gradate Certificate in Management

Victoria University

2002 – 2008 Postgraduate Clinical Diploma in Optometry

City University, UK

2006 – 2007 Specialist Therapeutic Diploma

College of Optometrists, UK

1997 – 2000 BSc Optometry (Hons)

Cardiff University of Wales, UK

BIOGRAPHY

Adam Samuels, Optometrist and Scientia PhD candidate at UNSW. His research involves contact lens adherence and health psychology.  

After completing his undergraduate degree in the U.K, he obtained experience in private practice, hospital clinics, refractive surgery clinics and voluntary outreach projects.  He was a professional affairs consultant for the contact lens industry and completed his postgraduate diploma in clinical optometry and therapeutics.  After moving to Australia in 2009, he set up and managed a successful clinical practice in Sydney. Adam has been heavily involved in clinical, mentoring, leadership roles and has delivered CPD lectures to optometrists.

Adam has perused research interests including behaviour change techniques and contact lens adherence. He supervises undergraduate 5^th year student projects and has a part time position as an Associate lecturer with the School of Optometry and Vision Science