S Polack1, H Kuper, Z Wadud, A Fletcher, A Foster. 1. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. sarah.polack@lshtm.ac.uk
Abstract
AIMS: To evaluate a vision-related quality of life (QOL) scale (World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness and Deafness Visual Function 20-WHO/PBD VF20) and explore the impact of cataract visual impairment on vision- and health-related QOL in people >or=50 years from Satkhira district, Bangladesh. METHOD: 217 cases visually impaired from cataract and 280 controls with normal vision were interviewed about vision-related QOL (WHO/PBD VF20), generic health-related QOL (EuroQol generic health instrument, EQ-5D) and socio-demographic information. The validity and reliability of the WHO/PBD VF20 were evaluated using standard psychometric tests and criteria. RESULTS: Evidence for validity and reliability of the WHO/PBD VF20 was found. Worsening general functioning, psychosocial and overall eyesight scores were associated with increased visual loss (p for trend<0.001). Cases were more likely to report problems with each EQ-5D descriptive domain and had poorer self-rated health than controls with normal vision (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Demonstration of the validity and reliability of the WHO/PBD VF20 in this population supports its suitability as a tool for assessing vision-related QOL in low-income settings. The poorer health-related QOL in cases compared with controls suggests an impact of cataract visual impairment on perceived health and well-being, beyond vision-specific experience.
AIMS: To evaluate a vision-related quality of life (QOL) scale (World Health Organization Prevention of Blindness and Deafness Visual Function 20-WHO/PBD VF20) and explore the impact of cataract visual impairment on vision- and health-related QOL in people >or=50 years from Satkhira district, Bangladesh. METHOD: 217 cases visually impaired from cataract and 280 controls with normal vision were interviewed about vision-related QOL (WHO/PBD VF20), generic health-related QOL (EuroQol generic health instrument, EQ-5D) and socio-demographic information. The validity and reliability of the WHO/PBD VF20 were evaluated using standard psychometric tests and criteria. RESULTS: Evidence for validity and reliability of the WHO/PBD VF20 was found. Worsening general functioning, psychosocial and overall eyesight scores were associated with increased visual loss (p for trend<0.001). Cases were more likely to report problems with each EQ-5D descriptive domain and had poorer self-rated health than controls with normal vision (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Demonstration of the validity and reliability of the WHO/PBD VF20 in this population supports its suitability as a tool for assessing vision-related QOL in low-income settings. The poorer health-related QOL in cases compared with controls suggests an impact of cataract visual impairment on perceived health and well-being, beyond vision-specific experience.
Authors: Alfred E Yawson; Edith M Ackuaku-Dogbe; Nana A Hagan Seneadza; George Mensah; Nadia Minicuci; Nirmala Naidoo; Somnath Chatterji; Paul Kowal; Richard B Biritwum Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-09-12 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Esmael Habtamu; Tariku Wondie; Sintayehu Aweke; Zerihun Tadesse; Mulat Zerihun; Zebideru Zewudie; Wondimu Gebeyehu; Kelly Callahan; Paul M Emerson; Hannah Kuper; Robin L Bailey; David C W Mabey; Saul N Rajak; Sarah Polack; Helen A Weiss; Matthew J Burton Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2015-11-23