Strategies to improve the reporting of legal blindness in Massachusetts

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 87; no. 3; pp. 425 - 428
• Main Authors: el-Hashimy, M M, Aubert, R E, Alich, K, Warram, J H, Harrigan, B A, Herman, W H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Public Health Assoc 01.03.1997; American Public Health Association
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Blindness; Diabetes; Epidemiology; Female; General aspects; Health surveillance; Humans; Improvement; Male; Massachusetts; Massachusetts - epidemiology; Medical personnel; Medical sciences; Methodology; Ophthalmology; Optometry; Physicians; Pilot Projects; Polls & surveys; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Registration; Registries; Reporting; Response rates; State laws; Strategies; Surveillance; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tax exemptions; Variables; United States; North America; Massachusetts; America; United States > US; Human; Methodology; Vision disorder; Physician; Optometry; Epidemiology; Eye disease; Register; Blindness; Characteristics collection; Strategy; Recording; Ophthalmology; Public health
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.87.3.425

Registration practices were evaluated as the initial phase of a validation study of the Register of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. Massachusetts eye care providers were surveyed to determine factors associated with nonreporting of legal blindness to the commission. Among ophthalmologists, factors associated with nonreporting were small practice size and practicing for 5 years or less in Massachusetts. Among optometrists, factors included small practice size and unawareness of the Massachusetts reporting law. Information should be disseminated to eye care providers, legally blind patients, and the public to ensure registration and sustain it.