Experiences of Visually Impaired Individuals in Self-Administering Prescription Medications: A Cross-Sectional Study

To explore the challenges that visually impaired individuals face in managing their prescribed therapy at home, and to identify the implications for all healthcare professionals involved in medication management and patient safety.

A cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study.

Data were collected from 357 visually impaired adults recruited at the premises of the Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired during their visits for various reasons between October 2022 and June 2023, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Variables included demographics, medication practices, and self-reported challenges in medication administration and dosing. Data were analysed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), a series of Kruskal-Wallis tests, and post hoc Dunn's tests in R (v. 4.4.3).

Respondents faced major problems in differentiating different types of tablets/capsules (56%) and differentiating different packages of drugs (47%); 5% of respondents sometimes take the wrong medicine, 4% sometimes take the wrong dose, and 11% sometimes take medicine at the wrong time. The most frequent problem was applying medications in liquid form. Older participants, those with chronic illness, multiple medications, lower education, or complete blindness reported significantly more difficulties. More than half of the respondents stated that they needed help in recognising drugs (60%), dosing (62%), and the expiration date of the drug (74%).

Visually impaired individuals, particularly those who are older and have complex medication regimens, face substantial barriers to safe and independent medication use. These findings highlight the need for individualised support and practical education strategies.

Through individualised approaches and practical training, with interprofessional collaboration, patient safety can be significantly improved and the risk of medication errors reduced. In a healthcare system with rapid technological advances and a growing shortage of healthcare workers, it is necessary to consider a broader range of support strategies, including efforts to understand the specific needs of people with visual impairments and the use of available assistive devices.

What problem did the study address?: Visually impaired individuals encounter substantial challenges in safely managing their prescribed medications, especially as they age and develop chronic health conditions. Despite the increasing global prevalence of vision impairment, this issue remains underexplored in nursing literature and practice. What were the main findings?: This study presents evidence on the specific challenges that visually impaired adults face when self-administering medications. It identifies key risk factors-including advanced age, polypharmacy, chronic illness, and complete blindness-and highlights the dosage forms that pose the greatest difficulty. Importantly, it also reveals a widespread need for assistance with medication identification, dosing, and monitoring expiration dates. Where and on whom will the research have an impact?: The findings highlight nurses' essential role in facilitating safe medication management for visually impaired patients. This involves assessing medication literacy, educating patients and caregivers, and promoting accessible medication labeling. The study highlights the need for nurse-led interventions and policy efforts to reduce disparities in medication safety, while recognising the valuable roles of both pharmacists and physicians in providing a comprehensive, interprofessional approach.

The authors adhered to the STROBE guidelines.

No patient or public involvement.