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

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.