In focus: Profession viewed positively but roles and scope not grasped

The GOC’s recently published 2019 public perceptions research has explored the ways in which patients view and interact with opticians and the services that they provide.

Similar research was previously conducted in 2015, 2016 and 2017 because the GOC wanted to better understand how the UK public viewed their experiences when seeing an optician, and how these views have changed over time. The ongoing research aims to measure and track trends in perceptions, behaviours, experience and levels of awareness over time and includes both patients and non-patients in the survey.

The GOC said: ‘We hope to use the insights which emerge from the research findings to improve as a regulator and to help better understand how we can fulfil our statutory duty of protecting and promoting the public’s health and safety.’