Optimizing patient accessibility: patients with decreased vision prefer educational materials in alternative media formats

Abstract

Purpose : Written materials are the dominant medium to convey educational and instructional information to patients. Given the significant proportion of patients with visual impairment in ophthalmology clinics, we hypothesize that these patients would prefer information presented through alternative media formats.

Methods : Patients were recruited from the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center Retina clinics (n=60) who had low vision, were scheduled for retina surgery or their first intravitreal injection, or were from the cornea clinic (n=50) at their pre-operative cataract surgery appointment. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), age, gender, electronic device usage, and previous usage of educational materials were collected. Each patient completed a Likert scale questionnaire to evaluate preference for written, infographic, audio, and video mediums of education. Data were analyzed through two-tailed Student’s t-test. An institutional review board reviewed this study protocol.

Results : Patients with BCVA of 20/50 or worse comprised 50% of the retina clinic and 30% of the cornea clinic participants. Their most preferred medium was audio while least preferred was written. Lower visual acuity positively correlated with preference for audio (p<0.001) and video (p<0.001) mediums while negatively correlating with written (p=0.0004) and infographic (p=0.0024) mediums. Patients with lower visual acuity were also less likely to use written handouts from any physician at prior encounters (p<0.001).
For all patients, video was most preferred and audio least preferred. In patients with BCVA 20/40 or better, written was the most preferred medium.

Conclusions : Patients with visual impairment tend to not use written materials from physicians and prefer alternate mediums of receiving information. Low visual acuity was associated with preference for audio and video over written and infographic mediums, with audio being most preferred. The patient population as a whole preferred video. Further investigation will be needed to see if these mediums are effective for educating visually impaired patients. Physicians may consider investing in alternative educational methods to increase accessibility of information to their patients.

This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.

 

Average Likert scale preference ratings (1-5) of written, infographic, audio, and video mediums are depicted for patient best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) subgroups.