Interprofessional collaboration between healthcare and low-vision care workers in long-term care practice

Online survey among healthcare workers

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the 1) current situation of interprofessional collaboration between healthcare workers and low-vision care (LVC) workers and 2) implementation of vision assessment and awareness of LVC among health care workers.Methods: Data were collected through an online survey using convenience non-probability sampling. Participants were healthcare workers engaged in long-term care practice, including care workers, care managers, nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Data on experiences of interprofessional collaboration with LVC workers (ophthalmologists, nurses working in ophthalmic practice, certified orthoptists, orientation and mobility trainers, and care workers specific to persons with vision disorder), implementing the vision assessment or not, and awareness of LVC were collected. Descriptive analysis was conducted.Results: We collected data from 1011 participants for analysis. The percentage of participants with experience in interprofessional collaboration with LVC workers were 43.82–73.59%. Approximately 80% of the participants implemented the visual assessment, and approximately 60% were aware of the name and role of LVC workers.Conclusion: This is the first study to reveal the current state of interprofessional collaboration between healthcare and LVC workers in Japan. Further studies are required to accumulate relevant evidence to develop interprofessional collaboration.