Kevin T Stroupe1,2, Joan A Stelmack3,4,5, X Charlene Tang6, Yongliang Wei6, Scott Sayers3,5, Domenic J Reda6, Ellen Kwon7, Robert W Massof8. 1. Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, Illinois. 2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University-Chicago, Maywood, Illinois. 3. Blind Rehabilitation Center, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, Illinois. 4. Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago. 5. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Medicine, Chicago. 6. Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center, Edward Hines Jr Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, Illinois. 7. Washington DC Medical Center, Washington. 8. Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Abstract
Importance: Examining costs and consequences of different low-vision (LV) programs provides important information about resources needed to expand treatment options efficiently. Objective: To examine the costs and consequences of LV rehabilitation or basic LV services. Design, Setting, and Participants: The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Low Vision Intervention Trial (LOVIT) II was conducted from September 27, 2010, to July 31, 2014, at 9 VA facilities and included 323 veterans with macular diseases and a best-corrected distance visual acuity of 20/50 to 20/200. Veterans were randomized to receive basic LV services that provided LV devices without therapy, or LV rehabilitation that added a therapist to LV services who provided instruction and homework on using LV devices, eccentric viewing, and environmental modification. We compared costs and consequences between these groups. Interventions: Low-vision devices without therapy and LV devices with therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Costs of providing basic LV services or LV rehabilitation were assessed. We measured consequences as changes in functional visual ability from baseline to follow-up 4 months after randomization using the VA Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire. Visual ability was measured in dimensionless log odds units (logits). Results: Of 323 randomized patients, the mean (SD) age was 80 (10.5) years, 314 (97.2%) were men, and 292 (90.4%) were white. One hundred sixty (49.5%) received basic LV services and 163 (50.1%) received LV rehabilitation. The mean (SD) total direct health care costs per patient were similar between patients who were randomized to receive basic LV services ($1662 [$671]) or LV rehabilitation ($1788 [$864]) (basic LV services, $126 lower; 95% CI, $299 lower to $35 higher; P = .15). However, basic LV services required less time and had lower transportation costs. Patients receiving LV rehabilitation had greater improvements in overall visual ability, reading ability, visual information processing, and visual motor skill scores.
RCT Entities:
Importance: Examining costs and consequences of different low-vision (LV) programs provides important information about resources needed to expand treatment options efficiently. Objective: To examine the costs and consequences of LV rehabilitation or basic LV services. Design, Setting, and Participants: The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Low Vision Intervention Trial (LOVIT) II was conducted from September 27, 2010, to July 31, 2014, at 9 VA facilities and included 323 veterans with macular diseases and a best-corrected distance visual acuity of 20/50 to 20/200. Veterans were randomized to receive basic LV services that provided LV devices without therapy, or LV rehabilitation that added a therapist to LV services who provided instruction and homework on using LV devices, eccentric viewing, and environmental modification. We compared costs and consequences between these groups. Interventions: Low-vision devices without therapy and LV devices with therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Costs of providing basic LV services or LV rehabilitation were assessed. We measured consequences as changes in functional visual ability from baseline to follow-up 4 months after randomization using the VA Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire. Visual ability was measured in dimensionless log odds units (logits). Results: Of 323 randomized patients, the mean (SD) age was 80 (10.5) years, 314 (97.2%) were men, and 292 (90.4%) were white. One hundred sixty (49.5%) received basic LV services and 163 (50.1%) received LV rehabilitation. The mean (SD) total direct health care costs per patient were similar between patients who were randomized to receive basic LV services ($1662 [$671]) or LV rehabilitation ($1788 [$864]) (basic LV services, $126 lower; 95% CI, $299 lower to $35 higher; P = .15). However, basic LV services required less time and had lower transportation costs. Patients receiving LV rehabilitation had greater improvements in overall visual ability, reading ability, visual information processing, and visual motor skill scores.
Authors: Ruth Ma van Nispen; Gianni Virgili; Mirke Hoeben; Maaike Langelaan; Jeroen Klevering; Jan Ee Keunen; Ger Hmb van Rens Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-01-27
Authors: Heather E Whitson; Sandra Woolson; Maren Olsen; Robert Massof; Stephanie M Ferguson; Kelly W Muir; John A Dziadul; Eleanor McConnell; Joan A Stelmack Journal: Optom Vis Sci Date: 2020-06 Impact factor: 2.106