Providing free glasses to improve school attendance for myopic children in rural China
SWISH (See Well to Stay In ScHool): Randomised Trial of Spectacle Distribution to Secondary School Children With Myopia to Increase Academic High School Attendance Rates in Rural Communities)
This study is testing if giving free glasses to myopic kids in rural China can help them attend high school more regularly.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 10000 (estimated) |
| Ages | N/A to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Queen's University, Belfast Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Shenyang, Liaoning and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT04077086 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to determine whether providing free glasses to myopic students in rural China, along with teacher incentives to encourage their use, can increase high school attendance rates. The research will involve a cluster-randomized controlled trial across 111 middle schools in Liaoning, where students will either receive glasses or only prescriptions. The primary outcome will be the difference in high school attendance rates between the two groups after three years, while secondary outcomes will assess compliance and the use of learning aids. The goal is to provide strong evidence to support national programs for distributing free glasses to children in need.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are Year 1 students aged 12-13 years in rural Chinese middle schools with uncorrected visual acuity of ≤6/12 and specific refractive errors.
Not a fit: Patients with visually significant ocular conditions other than refractive errors will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to increased high school attendance and improved educational outcomes for myopic children in rural areas.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that providing free glasses significantly improves academic performance, indicating a strong potential for success in this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Year 1 classes (likely age 12-13 years) at the recruited schools * Have uncorrected (without glasses) visual acuity of ≤6/12 in both eyes; * Refractive error meets cut-offs shown to be associated with significantly greater improvement in visual acuity when corrected (myopia ≤-0.75 diopters (D, or astigmatism (non-spherical refractive error) ≥1.00 D); * Visual acuity can be improved to \>= 6/7.5 in at least one eye with glasses. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of visually-significant ocular condition besides refractive error
Where this trial is running
Shenyang, Liaoning and 2 other locations
- He Eye Specialist Hospital — Shenyang, Liaoning, China (Recruiting)
- Ningxia University — Yinchuan, Xixia, China (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Centre for Public Health — Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (Not_yet_recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Nathan Congdon, MD, MPH — Queen's University, Belfast
- Study coordinator: Nathan Congdon, MD, MPH
- Email: ncongdon1@gmail.com
- Phone: 07748751393
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.