Impact of an interdisciplinary low vision service on the quality of life of low vision patients

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the impact of an interdisciplinary low vision service on the vision related quality of life of service users. Methods: 71 patients were interviewed 2 weeks before their appointment with the service and again 6 months later to assess any changes in their vision related quality of life. The majority of these patients had age related macular degeneration. Results: After contact with the service the majority of patients indicated a reduction in concern about most quality of life issues. They were significantly less anxious about deterioration of their vision, safety within the home, and coping with everyday life. Conclusion: Improvements in many areas of their vision related quality of life indicate that this interdisciplinary low vision service has a positive impact on the lives of service users. However many patients were still unable to carry out their preferred everyday activities, and feelings of loneliness and isolation were unchanged. The identification of issues unrelieved by input from the service will be important in planning future service delivery.

Health-related quality of life following blind rehabilitation

“…Overall, our findings of improvement in HRQOL after blind rehabilitation are consistent with most other studies involving blind rehabilitation or comprehensive low vision services [5,[24][25][26][27][28]. Our finding of positive changes at 2 and 6 months after rehabilitation are also consistent with results reported by Stelmack & Moran et al [30].…”

“…Most of the studies have focused on outpatient low vision services and have yielded different outcomes, from evidence of great success of low vision care [5,[25][26][27][28] to having little or no effect on the recipient's HRQOL [29]. Only a few studies have looked at the effects on HRQOL of participation in comprehensive in-patient blind rehabilitation programs such as the one administered by the DVA [25,26,30].…”

How Effective is Low Vision Service Provision? A Systematic Review

“…C In some services, this wider-reaching approach to low vision service provision has culminated in the development of multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary or integrated low vision services. 43,66,70,91,102,104,140,143 The exact nature of the multidisciplinary approach, however, is often poorly defined. Multidisciplinary models vary widely in their composition, but often include a mixture of healthcare professionals, including those described by the AHRQ, as well as psychologists and/or counsellors, combined in an integrated service.…”

“…A number of studies attempted to address this problem by comparing all available characteristics of those who did and those who did not complete the study, and by reporting reasons for loss to follow-up. 29,70,108,149 Another source of bias encountered was the way in which outcome data were collected. There is a risk that patients, particularly after a prolonged rehabilitation training period with a particular provider will be inclined to report more positively on outcomes if questionnaire items are presented by this provider.…”

“…93 From this review, it was apparent that in the past decade there has been a drive towards assessing outcomes based on measures of ability and/or independence in performing daily tasks, 48,65,110 on measures of psychological status, 52,72,75 or on patient-reported quality-of-life. 43,70,91,115 Instruments assessing functional status may be scored entirely based on a patient's judgment of their own ability (self-report/patient-rated assessment), e.g. the Veterans Affairs LV VFQ-48, 141 or may be completed by a single clinician, or group of professionals (provider/clinician-rated assessment), e.g.…”