A qualitative content analysis based on an extended parallel process model study of daycare center teacher behaviors concerning the eye health of preschool children

Purpose: This study is to explore the antecedent factors of daycare teacher behaviors concerning the eye health of preschool children by applying an extended parallel process model.Methods: Focus group interviews were conducted with ten daycare center teachers on September 4 and 14, 2023. A data analysis was performed according to the content analysis method by clustering the data into the four categories: the two threat factors of severity and susceptibility and the two efficacy factors of self-efficacy and response-efficacy.Results: Daycare center teachers’ perception of the severity of eye health problems in preschool children was high in relation to eye trauma, but it was recognized that viewing the electronic devices were of a less severe because symptoms were not noticed in a short period of time. They also showed low susceptibility because they were not sufficiently interested in the eye health hazard behaviors of preschool children. The self-efficacy of daycare center teachers was low because this was a lack of knowledge about symptoms of eye problems. However, they recognized that eye health activities performed in the preschool age could prevent negative eye health outcomes, thus showing a high response efficacy.Conclusion: In the future, it is necessary to increase the sensitivity and engagement of daycare center teachers concerning with the eye health of preschool children and to increase their self-efficacy. It will also be necessary to develop various interventions to improve eye health for preschool children that can be implemented by daycare center teachers.