Productivity Losses and Their Explanatory Factors Amongst People with Impaired Vision

Abstract

To estimate productivity losses amongst people with impaired vision in Portugal and to investigate explanatory factors associated with non-participation in the labour market. Methods A total of 546 visually impaired individuals participated in face-to-face interviews. Participants were asked about their workforce participation to determine productivity (employment status questionnaire), their health-related quality of life-HRQoL (EQ-5D) and their visual acuity and visual ability (Activity Inventory). Productivity losses included absenteeism and reduction in workforce participation. Logistic regression was used to determine independent factors associated with participation in the labour market. Results From the 546 participants, 50% were retired, 47% were of working age and 3% were students. The employment rate was 28% and the unemployment rate was 21% for the working age sample. For those of working age, productivity losses were estimated at €1.51 million per year, mean of €5496 per participant. The largest contributor to productivity losses was reduced workforce participation, estimated from 159 early retired or unemployed participants. After controlling for visual acuity and ability, younger individuals, with more years of education, without comorbidities and high HRQoL had higher probability of being employed. Conclusions Our findings show a high unemployment rate and high productivity losses amongst people with impaired vision. The probability of being employed was associated with education, HRQoL and comorbidities. We speculate that promoting education and health through effective visual rehabilitation programs may help to increase participation in the labour market. These findings can inform decisions to intervene to reduce the burden of vision loss.

Global economic productivity losses from vision impairment and blindness

“…We identified 11 peer-reviewed published studies [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] and five grey literature reports [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] that provided employment reduction data for 15 countries and WHO Mortality Stratum regions, which provide estimates for eight GBD regions and three GBD super regions (supplementary Table 2). Employment reduction was reported using employment rates or labour force participation rates.…”

Socioeconomic and physical health status changes after visual impairment in Korea using difference-in-difference estimations

“…The results for unemployment were statistically significant when the visually impaired group was divided into subgroups according to severity; that is, the extent of unemployment was only affected by severe visual impairment but not mild visual impairment. Results for correlations between employment status and visual impairment are controversial [25][26][27] . Therefore, future studies need to assess unemployment separately according to voluntary unemployment (such as retirement) compared with non-voluntary or enforced unemployment.…”

Cost‐effectiveness of basic vision rehabilitation (The basic VRS‐effect study): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

“…This study has been motivated by the lack of evidence about the ‘value for money’ of basic vision rehabilitation services (basic‐VRS) in Portugal. Previous research has shown that vision impairment in Portugal is a common condition that leads to significant costs at personal and societal levels . The general lack of cost‐effectiveness analysis (CEA) may delay decisions to implement more and better basic‐VRS and creates barriers to the development of vision rehabilitation .…”

“…It is known that VI can increase expenditure at personal and societal levels, but information about the ‘value for money’ (benefits vs costs) of VR is still limited. VI leads to a significant economic burden due to direct costs such as inpatient and outpatient care and indirect costs such as informal care or productivity losses . Informal care and productivity losses are likely to be consequences of vision disability (barriers faced by people with VI to live and develop skills) caused by reduced independence to perform activities of daily living and less job opportunities due to reduced ability to work .…”