Pollard Tamara L, Simpson John A, Lamoureux Ecosse L, Keeffe Jill E
Centre for Eye Research Australia, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia.
Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2003 Jul;23(4):321-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1475-1313.2003.00123.x.
To investigate barriers to accessing low vision services in Australia.
Adults with a vision impairment (<6/12 in the better eye and/or significant visual field defect), who were current patients at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH), were interviewed. The questions investigated self-perceived vision difficulties, duration of vision loss and satisfaction with vision and also examined issues of awareness of low vision services and referral to services. Focus groups were also conducted with vision impaired (<6/12 in the better eye) patients from the RVEEH, listeners of the Radio for the Print Handicapped and peer workers at Vision Australia Foundation. The discussions were recorded and transcribed.
The questionnaire revealed that referral to low vision services was associated with a greater degree of vision loss (p = 0.002) and a greater self-perception of low vision (p = 0.005) but that referral was not associated with satisfaction (p = 0.144) or difficulties related to vision (p = 0.169). Participants with mild and moderate vision impairment each reported similar levels of difficulties with daily activities and satisfaction with their vision (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the level of difficulties experienced with daily activities between those with mild-moderate and severe vision impairment (p < 0.05). The participants of the focus groups identified barriers to accessing low vision services related to awareness of services among the general public and eye care professionals, understanding of low vision and the services available, acceptance of low vision, the referral process, and transport.
In addition to the expected difficulties with lack of awareness of services by people with low vision, many people do not understand what the services provide and do not identify themselves as having low vision. Knowledge of these barriers, from the perspective of people with low vision, can now be used to guide the development and content of future health-promotion campaigns.
调查澳大利亚低视力服务获取的障碍。
对皇家维多利亚眼耳医院（RVEEH）的成年视力障碍患者（较好眼视力<6/12和/或有明显视野缺损）进行访谈。问题涉及自我感知的视力困难、视力丧失持续时间、对视力的满意度，还考察了低视力服务的知晓情况及转诊至服务机构的问题。还对RVEEH视力障碍（较好眼视力<6/12）患者、为盲人服务电台听众以及澳大利亚视力基金会的同伴工作者进行了焦点小组讨论。讨论内容进行了录音和转录。
问卷显示，转诊至低视力服务机构与视力丧失程度加重（p = 0.002）以及更强的低视力自我认知（p = 0.005）相关，但与满意度（p = 0.144）或视力相关困难（p = 0.169）无关。轻度和中度视力障碍参与者报告的日常活动困难程度和视力满意度水平相似（p>0.05）。然而，轻度 - 中度与重度视力障碍者在日常活动困难程度上存在显著差异（p<0.05）。焦点小组参与者确定了获取低视力服务的障碍，这些障碍涉及公众和眼保健专业人员对服务的知晓情况、对低视力及可用服务的理解、对低视力的接受度、转诊流程以及交通。
除了低视力者对服务缺乏知晓这一预期困难外，许多人不了解这些服务提供什么，也未将自己视为低视力者。从低视力者角度了解这些障碍，现在可用于指导未来健康促进活动的开展和内容制定。
