Abraham Carl Halladay, Boadi-Kusi Bert, Morny Enyam Komla Amewuho, Agyekum Prince
Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Assist Technol. 2022 Sep 3;34(5):611-618. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2021.1907485. Epub 2021 May 3.
Low vision care and rehabilitation is often limited by access to assistive devices, especially in low-resourced countries, due to their high cost and unavailability. Smartphones have the potential to serve as an alternative assistive device for people living with severe visual impairment and blindness (SVIB). This study aims to investigate the use of smartphones among people living with SVIB. The study was a cross-sectional study of 166 people living with SVIB in a low resourced setting. The participants were recruited from two tertiary institutions and four eye care facilities. A questionnaire was administered to all respondents and for those who could not read prints they were read out to them and their responses recorded. The majority of respondents (n = 88, 53.1%) either had no phone or used a basic phone. The prevalence of smartphone usage among people living with SVIB was found to be 46.90% (n = 78). Most respondents use their smartphones to interact on social media [n = 75 (96%)] and web browsing [n = 69,92%]. The most frequently demanded [n = 22 (44%)] smartphone functionality by the respondents was the image and color description feature. Most participants were unaware that 90% of their functionality demands already existed and were compatible with current smartphones. A significant number of people living with SVIB in this study used smartphones; however, most users are unaware of its full functionality and assistive capabilities.
低视力护理与康复往往因难以获取辅助设备而受到限制，尤其是在资源匮乏的国家，这是由于这些设备成本高昂且难以获得。智能手机有潜力成为重度视力障碍和失明患者的替代辅助设备。本研究旨在调查重度视力障碍和失明患者对智能手机的使用情况。该研究是一项横断面研究，涉及资源匮乏地区的166名重度视力障碍和失明患者。参与者从两所高等院校和四个眼科护理机构招募。对所有受访者进行问卷调查，对于那些无法阅读印刷品的受访者，问卷内容会读给他们听并记录他们的回答。大多数受访者（n = 88，53.1%）没有手机或使用基本型手机。重度视力障碍和失明患者中智能手机的使用率为46.90%（n = 78）。大多数受访者使用智能手机进行社交媒体互动[n = 75（96%）]和网页浏览[n = 69，92%]。受访者最常需求的智能手机功能[n = 22（44%）]是图像和颜色描述功能。大多数参与者不知道他们90%的功能需求已经存在且与当前智能手机兼容。本研究中有相当数量的重度视力障碍和失明患者使用智能手机；然而，大多数用户并不了解其全部功能和辅助能力。
