Abstract
Purpose :
Vision impairments (VIs) after stroke pose new challenges to cope with everyday life, and ability to seek, understand and use information of visual function and health (Visual health literacy, VHL) is important. The study explore living with VIs and maintain meaningfull activities and their VHL.
Methods :
The qualitative photovoice study included 15 Norwegian stroke survivors with self-reported post-stroke VIs. M/F: 4/11, >55 years of age, all gave written consent. Four focus groups interviews were conducted. Participants captured pictures using own phones over a period of 14 days and presented five photos each. Group reflections were guided by SHOWED protocol. Topics included how the picture related to how VIs affect everyday life, coping and participation in meaningful activities. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Texts were analysed thematically according to Braun and Clarke.
Results :
Preliminary analysis of 3 interview revealed 4 themes: Lack of VIs knowledge among health care personnel result in fragmented transfer of information to patients; Importance of relevant visual rehabilitation; Asking for help to maintain independence; Peer education motivate to improve VHL. VIs meant that some important activities were difficult but could still be performed in new ways. Sharing ways of managing meaningful activities, like cycling with a tandem bike or attending trail walking groups was perceived as useful.
Conclusions :
Photovoice can be a valuable method to gain insight to how stroke survivors cope with VIs and VHL. Further, it showed that participants with VIs can co-create meaningful new perspectives of living with VIs and may help to promote person-centred post-stroke vision rehabilitation.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.