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Haile Woretaw Alemu

Haile Woretaw Alemu

PhD Candidate
Postgraduate Research Student
Medicine & Health
School of Optometry and Vision Science

Research Title: Development of keratitis disease-specific item banks to measure the quality-of-life parameters.

Supervisor: Professor KonradÌýPesudovs

Co-supervisors:ÌýA/Prof Nicole Carnt,ÌýDr Sheela KumaranÌý

Ìý

Research summary

Modelling the relationship between item difficulty and respondent ability along a single latent trait using a psychometric technique holds great importance. The quality-of-life measurement using an item bank is fundamental to assessing health outcomes and improving clinical care. This research project aims to develop a keratitis-specific item bank to measure quality-of-life parameters among participants diagnosed with infectious keratitis.

In phase I, relevant items’ contents will be extracted from the literature. Further, items will be developed qualitatively using focus group discussions and guided in-depth interviews. ÌýItems will be used to explore fourteen quality-of-life domains. Up to fifteen focus groups with a member of four to six participants in each group will be formed. Moreover, up to fifty in-depth interviews will be conducted. The sample size is highly dependent on information saturation. The discussion and interview will be conducted and recorded using the Microsoft Team platform. The audio records will be transcribed using Microsoft Team.

In the Phase II survey, 350 participants will be recruited. A purposive sampling method will be used to select participants aged 18 years or older and primarily diagnosed with infectious keratitis before or during the data collection period. For both phases, study participants will be recruited from Westmead Hospital Eye Clinic, Sydney Eye Hospital referral centre, and social media keratitis support groups.

The NVivo package will store, transcribe, code, and analyse data collected from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Survey data will be conducted using REDCap. Rasch analysis using the Andrich rating scale model and Winsteps version V5.4.0 computer software will be implemented. Bland and Altman plots will be constructed using MedCalc software, (V 17.2, Belgium, 2016) to compare agreement between measurements. The overall study period will be from August 2023 to June 2026.ÌýÌý

Biography

I was born and grew up in Gondar, Ethiopia. I hold BSc and MSc degree in Optometry from the University of Gondar. I underwent fellowship training at LV Prasad Eye Institute, India. Previously, I worked as a full-time employee at the University of Gondar, where I was responsible for teaching, research, and community service. Currently, I am pursuing PhD at the University of New South Wales, Sydney.

Beyond my academic pursuits, I have a deep affection for nature. My hobby involves travelling to historical sites and national parks. During my leisure time, I enjoy playing soccer and watching documentary films.

Education

2008: BSc in optometry, University of Gondar Ìý

2014: MSc in Clinical Optometry, University of Gondar

2017: Fellowship in Anterior Segment, LV Prasad Eye Institute, India.

2022 to date: PhD Candidate, SOVS, UNSW. ÌýÌýÌýÌý

Conference Attendance

2011: African Council of Optometry AGM, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

2013: African Council of Optometry and SAOA AGM, Cape Town, South Africa. Ìý

2017: World Council of Optometry AGM, Hyderabad, India.

2020: Ethiopian Optometric Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ìý

Affliations and Memberships

Fulltime employ: University of Gondar, EthiopiaÌý

Founding Member: Ethiopian Optometric Association.

Lifetime member: Ethiopian Red Cross Society.Ìý

    1. Yalew AB, Alemu HW, Alemayehu AM. (2023). "Factors Affecting Unmet Need for Presbyopia Correction Among School Teachers in Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia". Clinical Optometry. 15: 129-138. DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S411708

    2. Alemu HW. (2021). "Willingness to pay for spectacle: an Outreach-Based cross-sectional study". Ophthalmic Epidemiology.20:27-31 DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2020.1786589

    3. Alemu HW, Adimassu NF. (2021). ''Are Nonprescription Sunglasses in Ethiopian Market Protective for Ultraviolet Radiation?'' Clinical Optometry. 13:1-6. DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S290249

    4. Ngozika E, Alemu, HW, Cheklie T, Kingsley E, Ryan M; Sakeem J. (2023). "High Prevalence of Symptomatic Dry Eye Disease Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago." Clinical Optometry. 15:37-43. DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S396135

    5. Assefa NL, Weldemichael DZ, Alemu HW, Anbesse DH. (2015). ''Prevalence and associated factors of computer vision syndrome among bank workers in Gondar City, northwest Ethiopia''. Clinical Optometry. 10; 9:67-76. DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S126366

    6. Preetam K, Alemu HW. (2019). "The role of corneo-scleral junction in soft contact lens fitting: Case report on nanophthalmos". Contact Lens Anterior Eye. 42: 226-228. DOI: 10.1016/j.clae.2018.10.001.Ìý

    7. Yalew AB, Alemu HW, Alemayehu AM. (2023). "Factors Affecting Unmet Need for Presbyopia Correction Among School Teachers in Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia". Clinical Optometry. 15: 129-138. DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S411708Ìý

    8. Merrie, YA, Tegegne MM, Munaw, MB, ÌýAlemu HW. (2019). "Prevalence and associated factors of visual impairment among school-age children in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia." Clinical Optometry. 11: 135-143. DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S213047

    9. Adimassu, NF; Woldetsadik ZG, Alemu HW. (2020). "Proportion of ophthalmic self-medication and associated factors among adult ophthalmic patients attending Borumeda Hospital, Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia." Journal of Ophthalmology. DOI: 10.1155/2020/6932686

    10. Aragaw BB, Alemu HW, Assaye AK, Belete YA, Alemayehu HB. (2023). "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Ocular Manifestations of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Among Adults at University of Gondar Hospital, North West Ethiopia." Clinical Ophthalmology. 17:1323-1333. DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S406837

    11. Eticha BL, Alemu HW, Assaye AK Tilahun MM. (2021). Attitude towards traditional eye medicine and associated factors among adult ophthalmic patients attending University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital-Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia. 313: 23-332. Clinical Optometry. DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S335781

    12. Ferede AS, Alemu DS, Gudeta AD, Alemu HW, Melese MA. (2020). Visual impairment among primary school children in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Journal of Ophthalmology. DOI: 10.1155/2020/6934013

    13. Gudeta AD Tsegaw A, Alemu DS, Alemu HW. (2016). "Knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors towards spectacles use among adults in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia." BMC Ophthalmology. 16:184. DOI: 10.1186/s12886-016-0357-3

    14. Alemu DS, Gudeta AD, Ferede AS, Alemu HW. (2016). "Prevalence and degrees of myopia and hyperopia at University of Gondar Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia." Clinical Optometry. 85-91. DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S116535