Abstract
Purpose :
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) programs aim to equip individuals with vision disability with the skills and techniques that optimize their ability for safe, independent travel, and hence foster their social, economic and educational participation. The purpose of this study was to conduct a cost-benefit analysis from three perspectives: the general public, the experienced user and the potential users of O&M programs in Australia.
Methods :
Willingness-to-pay, was collected via contingent valuation survey using a double-bound dichotomous choice approach. The survey had three arms: Arm 1, the general public via stratified random sampling, Arm 2, experienced users of O&M programs, and Arm 3, potential users of O&M programs, were drawn from a major O&M service provider’s database and two eye clinics via convenience sampling. Willingness-to-pay was estimated using interval regression analyses, accounting for study arm, sex, occupation, income and self-rated health. The cost data, including labour, travel and occupancy costs, were estimated from a service provider’s perspective. The Net Present Value, variation if delivered by tele-O&M programs and priority for resource allocation was investigated.
Results :
Arm 1 (the general public) included 471 participants (60.7% female) with a mean age of 64.6 years (range 18 - 100); Arm 2 (the experienced user) included 96 participants (59.4% female) with a mean age of 61.9 years (range 19 - 97); and Arm 3 (the potential user) included 137 participants (59.9% female) with a mean age of 74.2 years (range 21 - 97). Overall, the adjusted mean Net Present Value of O&M programs was $3857 (95%CI: $3760 - $3954) per client, with a highest NPV from the general public ($4289, 95% CI: $ 4185 - $4392), followed by the experienced users ($ 3158, 95% CI: $ 2897 - $3419) and the potential users ($ 2867, 95% CI: $ 2680 - $3054). The NPV reached break-even for tele-O&M programs. Priorities for resource allocation were similar between O&M programs, low vision services and care worker assistance.
Conclusions :
There was strong community support for investment into O&M programs, including tele-programs. The results of this survey indicated that investment into these programs generates substantial benefits for clients over and above the cost of providing the services.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.