Motoko Kawashima1, Yoshimune Hiratsuka2,3, Tadashi Nakano4, Hiroshi Tamura5,6, Koichi Ono7, Akira Murakami3, Sachiko Inoue8, Kazuo Tsubota8, Masakazu Yamada9,10. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 1608582, Japan. motoko-k@a3.keio.jp. 2. Department of Health and Welfare Services, National Institute of Public Health, Wako, Japan. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Department of Ophthalmology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. 5. Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. 6. Division of Medical Information Technology & Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan. 7. Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan. 8. Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 1608582, Japan. 9. National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan. 10. Department of Ophthalmology, Kyorin University, Mitaka, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study examines the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and the legal Japanese grade of visual impairment as defined by the Physically Disabled Persons Welfare Act. METHODS: Participants of this cross-sectional study were 98 Japanese patients legally classified as visually impaired, from six ophthalmology departments. Vision-related QOL was evaluated using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25). The short Japanese version of this questionnaire (VFQ-J11) score was calculated from the VFQ-25 results for each participant. Health utility was measured using the EuroQoL Index (EQ-5D). Data were collected for age, gender, vision-disability level, the corrected visual acuity of each eye, and disease type. RESULTS: The mean age was 66.8 years (SD = 17.8). Visual impairment grade was significantly associated with VFQ-J11 score and the composite score developed from the VFQ-25 (p < 0.001), but not with the health utility score obtained from the EQ-5D. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the Japanese legally designated grading system for visual impairment reflects the degree of vision-related QOL, but does not reflect general health utility as determined by the EQ-5D.
PURPOSE: This study examines the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and the legal Japanese grade of visual impairment as defined by the Physically Disabled Persons Welfare Act. METHODS:Participants of this cross-sectional study were 98 Japanese patients legally classified as visually impaired, from six ophthalmology departments. Vision-related QOL was evaluated using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25). The short Japanese version of this questionnaire (VFQ-J11) score was calculated from the VFQ-25 results for each participant. Health utility was measured using the EuroQoL Index (EQ-5D). Data were collected for age, gender, vision-disability level, the corrected visual acuity of each eye, and disease type. RESULTS: The mean age was 66.8 years (SD = 17.8). Visual impairment grade was significantly associated with VFQ-J11 score and the composite score developed from the VFQ-25 (p < 0.001), but not with the health utility score obtained from the EQ-5D. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the Japanese legally designated grading system for visual impairment reflects the degree of vision-related QOL, but does not reflect general health utility as determined by the EQ-5D.
Entities:
Keywords:
Grade; Quality of life; Visual impairment
Authors: E P Steinberg; J M Tielsch; O D Schein; J C Javitt; P Sharkey; S D Cassard; M W Legro; M Diener-West; E B Bass; A M Damiano Journal: Arch Ophthalmol Date: 1994-05
Authors: Christopher G Owen; Alicja R Rudnicka; Liam Smeeth; Jennifer R Evans; Richard P L Wormald; Astrid E Fletcher Journal: BMC Ophthalmol Date: 2006-06-09 Impact factor: 2.209