Factors associated with comfort level of occupational therapy practitioners in providing low vision services

• Published in: The American journal of occupational therapy Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 96 - 101
• Main Authors: Winner, Sandra, Yuen, Hon K, Vogtle, Laura K, Warren, Mary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Occupational Therapy Association 01.01.2014; American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Analysis; Attitude of Health Personnel; Care and treatment; Certification; Clinical Competence; Continuing education; Curricula; Diagnosis; Education; Education Courses; Educational Technology; Humans; Likert Scales; Low vision; Medical education; Occupational therapy; Occupational Therapy - education; Occupational Therapy - psychology; Professionals; Referral and Consultation; Rehabilitation; Research design; Resistance (Psychology); Social Support Groups; Study and teaching; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Vision Tests; Vision, Low - diagnosis; Vision, Low - rehabilitation; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0272-9490; 1943-7676
• DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2014.009142

OBJECTIVE. We describe the perceived adequacy of educational preparation for and comfort level of occupational therapy practitioners in providing services to clients with low vision and identify factors associated with the practitioners' comfort level. METHOD. One hundred occupational therapists who were not specialists in low vision rehabilitation completed a survey. RESULTS. Fifty-two percent of the respondents perceived that they had received adequate preparation in occupational therapy school to address low vision. Between 54% and 63% of respondents were comfortable performing visual screening and providing interventions for clients with low vision. Multivariable analyses indicated that having received adequate preparation in occupational therapy school, having a partnership with an eye-care professional, and having provided services to a larger percentage of clients with low vision were significantly associated with perceived comfort in providing services to this population. CONCLUSION. Findings provide an initial direction to improve low vision content in occupational therapy education curricula.