A randomised controlled trial of a self-management programme for low vision implemented in low vision rehabilitation services

Gwyneth Rees; Jing Xie; Peggy P Chiang; Melanie F Larizza; Manjula Marella; Jennifer B Hassell; Jill E Keeffe; Ecosse L Lamoureux

doi:10.1016/j.pec.2014.11.008

A randomised controlled trial of a self-management programme for low vision implemented in low vision rehabilitation services

Patient Educ Couns. 2015 Feb;98(2):174-81. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2014.11.008. Epub 2014 Nov 20.

Authors

Gwyneth Rees¹, Jing Xie², Peggy P Chiang³, Melanie F Larizza², Manjula Marella⁴, Jennifer B Hassell⁵, Jill E Keeffe⁶, Ecosse L Lamoureux⁷

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: grees@unimelb.edu.au.
² Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
³ Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
⁴ Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Office for Research Ethics and Integrity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.
⁷ Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.

PMID: 25481576
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2014.11.008

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a low vision self-management programme (LVSMP) in older adults.

Methods: Participants (n=153) were existing clients of a national low vision rehabilitation organisation randomly allocated to usual services (n=60) or usual services plus LVSMP (n=93). The LVSMP was an 8-week group programme facilitated by low vision counsellors. The primary outcome was vision-specific quality of life (QoL) measured using the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes emotional well-being, self-efficacy and adaptation to vision loss were measured using the depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS), general self-efficacy scale (GSES), and short form adaptation to age-related vision loss scale (AVL12).

Results: At one and six month follow-up assessments, no significant between-group differences were found for vision-specific QoL, emotional well-being, adaptation to vision loss or self-efficacy (p>0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed no impact of the intervention on outcome measures.

Conclusions: In contrast to previous work, our study found limited benefit of a LVSM programme on QoL for older adults accessing low vision services.

Practice implications: When implementing self-management programmes in low vision rehabilitation settings, issues of client interest, divergence of need, programme accessibility and fidelity of intervention delivery need to be addressed.

Keywords: Low vision rehabilitation; Quality of life; Research translation; Self-management; Vision impairment.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anxiety / prevention & control
Anxiety / psychology*
Australia
Female
Humans
Male
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Program Evaluation
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychometrics
Quality of Life*
Self Care / methods*
Self Efficacy
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vision Disorders / psychology
Vision Disorders / rehabilitation*

Associated data

ANZCTR/ACTRN12607000399493