Armenian adults in Southern California are being invited to take part in a short research survey aimed at better understanding access to preventive eye care within the Armenian community.
The study is being conducted by Stella Ghevondyan, a fourth-year Honors Public Health student at the University of California, San Diego. According to Ghevondyan, the IRB-exempt research project focuses on eye health in the Southern California Armenian community, with the goal of identifying barriers to care, gaps in awareness, and opportunities to improve access to preventive services.
The survey is open to Armenian adults ages 18 and older. It takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete, is anonymous, and participation is fully voluntary. Respondents will be asked about their experiences with eye care, access to health services, and beliefs about eye health. Participants may skip any question they do not wish to answer and may stop participating at any time without penalty.
Researchers are especially hoping to increase participation from men and newly arrived Armenians, who are currently underrepresented among responses. However, all Armenian adults in Southern California are encouraged to participate, regardless of age or gender, in order to help create a broader and more representative picture of the community’s eye care needs.
Although there is no compensation or direct personal benefit for taking part, the information collected may help researchers and healthcare providers better understand obstacles to routine eye examinations and preventive eye care among Armenians. The study may also help support future outreach, education, and services designed to improve eye health awareness and access in the community.
No identifying information, including names, will be collected. Responses will remain confidential and will be used only for research purposes.
The survey is available in both Armenian and English:
Armenian survey:
https://ucsd.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2caNHamgO2W8Xxc
English survey:
https://ucsd.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9phyDvvzRtmt2Rw
For questions about the study, participants may contact Stella Ghevondyan at stellaghevondyan@gmail.com.
For questions about participant rights, the UC San Diego Office of IRB Administration may be contacted at irb@ucsd.edu or 858-246-4777.
