TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of the community-based Low Vision Service Wales: a long-term outcome study
AU - Ryan, B
AU - Khadka, Jyoti
AU - Bunce, C
AU - Court, Helen
PY - 2013/4
Y1 - 2013/4
N2 - Aims: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the community-based Low Vision Service Wales (LVSW). Methods: A long-term observational study of the Government-funded, community-based, low-vision rehabilitation service which operates in over 180 optometry practices in Wales. Participants were recruited from the LVSW (n=342; 246 women; median age 82 years) at baseline (before the Low Vision intervention). The primary outcome measure was change in visual disability as evaluated by the seven-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). Change was measured on the same cohort at three separate time points, and comparisons were made between these: baseline-3 months; 3-18 months; baseline-18 months. Secondary outcome measures included: use of low-vision aids (LVAs) and satisfaction with the service provided. Results: Questionnaires were sent to 281 participants (whose visual disability had been measured at baseline and 3 months) at 18 months postintervention. Responses were received from 190 (67.6%) people; 24 were deceased. Self-reported visual disability was significantly reduced (Wilcoxon Signed Rank (WSR) test: p<0.001) between baseline and 18 months by -0.28 logits (-1.24 to 0.52). This was less than that found between baseline and 3 months; -0.61 logits (-1.81 to 0.02). At 18 months, 79% patients used their LVAs at least once a week which was not significantly different to that found at 3 months (WSR: p=0.127). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that the effect of the LVSW persists over a period of 18 months; disability is reduced from baseline, and use of LVAs remains high.
AB - Aims: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the community-based Low Vision Service Wales (LVSW). Methods: A long-term observational study of the Government-funded, community-based, low-vision rehabilitation service which operates in over 180 optometry practices in Wales. Participants were recruited from the LVSW (n=342; 246 women; median age 82 years) at baseline (before the Low Vision intervention). The primary outcome measure was change in visual disability as evaluated by the seven-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). Change was measured on the same cohort at three separate time points, and comparisons were made between these: baseline-3 months; 3-18 months; baseline-18 months. Secondary outcome measures included: use of low-vision aids (LVAs) and satisfaction with the service provided. Results: Questionnaires were sent to 281 participants (whose visual disability had been measured at baseline and 3 months) at 18 months postintervention. Responses were received from 190 (67.6%) people; 24 were deceased. Self-reported visual disability was significantly reduced (Wilcoxon Signed Rank (WSR) test: p<0.001) between baseline and 18 months by -0.28 logits (-1.24 to 0.52). This was less than that found between baseline and 3 months; -0.61 logits (-1.81 to 0.02). At 18 months, 79% patients used their LVAs at least once a week which was not significantly different to that found at 3 months (WSR: p=0.127). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that the effect of the LVSW persists over a period of 18 months; disability is reduced from baseline, and use of LVAs remains high.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84875136583&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-302416
DO - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-302416
M3 - Article
SN - 0007-1161
VL - 97
SP - 487
EP - 491
JO - British Journal of Ophthalmology
JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology
IS - 4
ER -