Availability of low vision services and barriers to their provision and uptake in Ghana: practitioners’ perspectives

Kyeremeh, Sylvester; Mashige, Khathutshelo Percy

doi:10.4314/ahs.v21i2.51

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(31 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, the financial barrier prevents low‐vision patients from accessing the services offered by these private practices, leading to a lower likelihood of optometrists providing low‐vision services. While financial constraints are a significant factor, other barriers such as lack of space and inadequate training may also contribute to the limited provision of low‐vision services by optometrists in T&T. Similar findings were reported in studies conducted in Ghana 5,21,22 …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Scope of optometry practice in Trinidad and Tobago: A cross‐sectional study

Ezinne,

Kwarteng,

Tagoh

et al. 2023

Health Science Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and AimTo report the scope of optometry practice in Trinidad and Tobago to identify areas that need improvement.MethodsA cross‐sectional study of optometrists in Trinidad and Tobago was conducted using a validated self‐structured questionnaire. Data obtained was exported to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive analysis and Pearson χ2 were used to summarize the demographic data and determine associations, respectively.ResultA total of 63 optometrists participated in the study. Majority of them were females (69.8%, n = 44), Christians (65.1%), East Indians (47.6%), and 30 years and below (66.7%). Most (87%) of them utilized routine optometric equipment in their clinical practice including autorefractors, retinoscopes, direct ophthalmoscopes, lensometers, phoropters, slit lamp biomicroscopes, trial lens boxes, and visual acuity chart projectors. A few of them have noncontact tonometer (4.8%), Volk lenses (1.6%), and perform color vision tests (1.6%). Fewer (12.7%, n = 8) practitioners provided low‐vision services. The use of pharmaceutical agents was prevalent among the participants (55.6%). Additionally, the provision of contact lenses was the most frequently practiced service among the participants (85.7%, n = 54). A significant association was observed between the provision of low‐vision services and sex (p = 0.03).ConclusionThe scope of optometry practice in Trinidad and Tobago is in accordance with the basic guidelines set out by the World Council of Optometry but there is need to get more involved in the provision of low vision and other specialty services.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…While financial constraints are a significant factor, other barriers such as lack of space and inadequate training may also contribute to the limited provision of low‐vision services by optometrists in T&T. Similar findings were reported in studies conducted in Ghana. 5 , 21 , 22 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scope of optometry practice in Trinidad and Tobago: A cross‐sectional study

Ezinne,

Kwarteng,

Tagoh

et al. 2023

Health Science Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, Khimani, Redmon [ 32 ] and Sarika, Venugopal [ 33 ] recently showed that investigating both point of views can be beneficial as it generates a broad perspective, which contributes to a better understanding about factors influencing the referral pathways to LVS. Furthermore, earlier studies were mainly conducted in countries with no systematic national provision or financial coverage of LVS and/or with a low income, such as the United States [ 25 , 28 , 32 ], Australia [ 30 , 31 ], Canada [ 23 ], India [ 29 , 33 ], Colombia [ 34 ] and Ghana [ 35 ]. As a consequence, insights to referral barriers and facilitators are particularly lacking from high-income countries in general with different types of healthcare and coverage systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and facilitators in the referral pathways to low vision services from the perspective of patients and professionals: a qualitative study

Stolwijk

Nispen

Ham

et al. 2023

BMC Health Serv Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Underutilization of and lack of access to low vision services (LVS) has been reported internationally. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators in LVS referral procedures and service delivery from both the perspective of people with visual impairment and professionals from different eye care providers in the Netherlands. Methods A qualitative study in the Netherlands was conducted. Barriers and facilitators were explored through semi structured interviews with older adults with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and/or glaucoma (n = 14), and healthcare professionals including ophthalmologists and LVS professionals (n = 16). Framework analysis was used for analyzing the interviews with Atlas.ti software. Results According to both patients and professionals, facilitators in LVS access and utilization are having motivation, self-advocacy, high participation needs and social support, as well as being negatively impacted by the impairment. Both samples found having good communication skills and informing patients about LVS as a healthcare provider to facilitate access. A long patient-provider relationship and the Dutch healthcare system were also mentioned as facilitators. Professionals additionally found long disease duration and the presence of low vision optometric services in the ophthalmic practice to promote access. Barriers that were reported by patients and professionals are lack of motivation, self-advocacy and acceptance of the impairment in patients. In addition, having low participation needs as a patient, lack of information provision by providers and time constraints in the ophthalmic practice were mentioned as barriers. Professionals also reported lack of social support, short disease duration of patients, a short patient-provider relationship and lack of coordination of care in the ophthalmic practice to hinder access. Conclusions Findings suggest that providers’ lack of information provision about LVS, especially to patients who are less assertive, hamper referral to LVS. Providers should have attention for patients’ LVS needs and actively inform them and their social network about LVS to facilitate access. Educating and training providers about how and when to address LVS may help to reduce barriers in the referral pathways. In addition, referral procedures may benefit from tools that make providers more aware of LVS.

show abstract

“…Contrary to advanced countries, visually impaired and/or low vision patients in resourceconstraint environments are predisposed to a vast unmet visual need. These trends are in part due to decreased doctor-to-patient distribution, inadequate eyecare facilities and medical resources for care givers, as well as the relatively high subsidies on medical treatments [6][7][8]. The prevalence of vision impairment and blindness in Ghana is presently on a rise, yet there remains inadequate low vision treatment and rehabilitation services to address such challenges [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low vision practice and service provision among Optometrists in Ghana: a nationwide survey

Akuffo,

Duah Junior,

Acquah

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim: To characterize practice patterns of low vision services among Optometrists in Ghana. Methods: The nationwide cross-sectional survey identified entities through the Ghana Optometrists Association (GOA) registry and utilized a semi-structured questionnaire to consolidate survey information that comprises practitioners demographics, available services, diagnostic equipment, barriers to service provision and utilization, and interventions. Results: 300 Optometrists were identified, with 213 surveyed (71% response rate). About fifty percent (52.6%) were in private practice, and more than two-thirds (77%) did not provide low vision services. Most (>70%) established lack of assistive devices, and basic eye care examination kits as the main barriers to low vision service provision. Similarly, practitioners reported unawareness of the presence of low vision centres (76.1%), and high cost of low vision aids (75.1%) as the prime perceived barriers for patients to utilize low vision services. Continuous professional development and public education (89-90%) were suggestive interventions to improve the uptake of low vision services. After statistical adjustment, private facility type (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.35, p = 0.010) and lack of basic eye examination kits (AOR = 0.32, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with reduced odds of low vision service provision. Conversely, 15-19 years of work experience (AOR = 8.49, p = 0.022) were significantly associated with increased odds of low vision service provision. Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate inadequate low vision coverage and service delivery. Government policies must be directed towards equipping practitioners with equipment and subsidize patient cost of treatment to optimize low vision care.

show abstract

Availability of low vision services and barriers to their provision and uptake in Ghana: practitioners’ perspectives

Cited by 7 publications

References 18 publications

Scope of optometry practice in Trinidad and Tobago: A cross‐sectional study

Scope of optometry practice in Trinidad and Tobago: A cross‐sectional study

Barriers and facilitators in the referral pathways to low vision services from the perspective of patients and professionals: a qualitative study

Low vision practice and service provision among Optometrists in Ghana: a nationwide survey

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About