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Help needed in medication self-management for people with visual impairment: case-control study
Roseleen M McCann1, A Jonathan Jackson, Michael Stevenson
1Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Group of Hospitals Belfast and Centre for Public Health Research, Queen's University, Belfast.
Summary
Older adults with visual impairment (VI) struggle with medication self-management, needing more help than those without VI. This highlights the need for practical support strategies in primary care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
Background:
- Visual impairment (VI) prevalence is increasing, contributing to morbidity in older adults.
- Understanding VI's impact on medication self-management is crucial for improving health outcomes.
- Little is known about the specific challenges faced by older individuals with VI in managing their medications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare medication self-management issues between older adults with and without visual impairment.
- To identify specific difficulties encountered by visually impaired individuals in managing their medications.
- To assess the need for assistance in medication management among older adults with VI.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving participants aged 65 years and older.
- Recruited 156 individuals with VI (best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA] 6/18–3/60) and 158 controls (BCVA 6/9 or better).
- Utilized validated questionnaires (Morisky, Medication Adherence Report Scale [MARS]) and home visits to assess medication adherence, self-management, beliefs, and support.
Main Results:
- Approximately half of participants in both groups reported perfect adherence.
- Despite optical aids, only 3% with VI could read medication information clearly; 24% had difficulty distinguishing tablets.
- Individuals with VI were more than twice as likely to need help managing medications (29% vs. 13%), often from friends or pharmacists, and more frequently received social service support.
Conclusions:
- Older adults with VI are significantly more likely to require assistance with medication management compared to their sighted peers.
- Clinical practice, especially in primary care, must recognize the practical support needs of patients with VI for prescribed treatments.
- Further exploration of strategies for effective medication self-management in visually impaired older adults is warranted.
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