Confidence in low vision rehabilitation and attitudes towards further learning: A survey of UK optometrists

Gemma Gould, Robert Harper, Michael Bowen, Christine Dickinson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Optometrists are well positioned to help expand low vision (LV) services
and improve their availability and accessibility. Determinants of participation in LV service provision must be well understood to facilitate successful service expansion. This survey aimed to investigate optometrists' professional confidence in the delivery of LV services and attitudes towards further learning.
Methods: An online survey was emailed to a sample of College of Optometrists
members. Respondents rated their confidence in different areas of core optometric practice; confidence in LV was compared with confidence in other areas. Respondents also rated their confidence in undertaking multiple tasks involved in LV service delivery and in routine optometric practice; confidence was compared between optometrists who do and do not work in a LV service. Attitudes towards learning more about assessing and supporting patients with a vision impairment (VI) were recorded.
Results: The survey received 451 recorded responses (15.1% response rate).
Optometrists who do not work in a LV service reported significantly lower confidence in LV than in other areas of core optometric practice, whereas optometrists who work in a LV service reported significantly higher confidence in LV than in other areas. Additionally, optometrists who do not work in a LV service reported significantly lower confidence in all tasks involved in LV service delivery than optometrists who work in a LV service (p<0.001 for all tasks). Approximately 80% of respondents were interested in learning more about assessing and supporting patients with a VI.
Conclusions: Optometrists who do not work in a LV service have relatively low
confidence in LV, which could contribute to low motivation to participate in LV
service provision. There is sizeable interest in learning more about assessing and
supporting patients with a VI, which could help to increase motivation to participate in LV service provision.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)829-839
Number of pages11
JournalOphthalmic and Physiological Optics
Volume44
Issue number5
Early online date6 May 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2024

Keywords

  • behaviour change theory
  • confidence
  • low vision
  • optometrists
  • primary care
  • vision impairment

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