Concerns on healthcare access, utilization, and safety due to COVID-19 among American adults with vision loss.
Niranjani Nagarajan, Varshini Varadaraj, Paola Chanes-Mora and 2 others
PMID 35256309WHAT IT FOUND
Most adults with vision loss surveyed in early 2020 reported pandemic-related healthcare and safety concerns.
Women, older adults, those with adult-onset vision loss, and people with additional disabilities were significantly more likely to report worries about accessing care, caregiver support, and safe interactions.
Key findings
0153% of the total sample reported at least one healthcare or safety concern related to the pandemic.
02Concerns were highest regarding touching public signage (83%), followed by caregiver access if hospitalized (61%) and social distancing (63%).
03Respondents with additional disabilities or comorbidities had roughly double the odds of reporting concerns about caregiver access and ventilator denial compared to those with vision impairment alone.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The survey was cross-sectional and captured only early pandemic data (April 2020), so it does not reflect changes in concerns or healthcare access as the pandemic progressed. Recruitment was via online platforms and specific organizations, potentially excluding individuals without digital access or those less connected to disability advocacy groups. The sample was predominantly white (74%) and female (63%), limiting generalizability to other racial and gender groups. There was no control group of people without vision impairment to compare baseline levels of concern. Self-reported data is subject to recall and response bias.
Declared interests
No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest are detailed in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these concerns apply equally to all patients with vision loss. The study found that women, older adults, and those with additional disabilities or adult-onset vision loss were significantly more likely to report high levels of concern. Patients with congenital vision loss and no additional disabilities may have different, potentially less severe, pandemic-related anxieties.