Siyuan J Lu, Shenouda Girgis, Peter Shah, Graham A Lee
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Prcis: There are significant mental, physical, and perceptual challenges in patients undergoing visual field testing, particularly in the elderly population with glaucoma.
Purpose: To quantitatively and qualitatively investigate patient experiences of undergoing visual field testing.
Methods: This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study involves adult patients attending a private outpatient ophthalmology clinic in Brisbane, Australia. Participant experiences of visual field testing were assessed using a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS), followed by face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Outcome data comprised of VAS scores (1-100) and thematically analyzed verbatim notes.
Results: Of the 152 participants [M:F 79 (52.0%):73 (48.0%)], the age group with the highest proportion of participants was 71-80 years [n=56 (36.8%)], and most had a primary ocular diagnosis of glaucoma [n=107 (70.4%)]. The mean VAS score for visual field testing experience was 60.45 (SD=30.38). The mean VAS score of participants with glaucoma was significantly lower than that of participants without glaucoma [55.34 (31.13) vs. 72.67 (25.04); P <0.05]. Prevalent themes regarding participant experiences of visual field testing consisted of concentration difficulties, intra-test and peri-test anxiety, skepticism in the testing process, and physical discomfort. Age, sex, and mean visual field index did not influence participant experiences of visual field testing.
Conclusions: Mental and physical barriers to visual field testing tolerability were identified in a predominantly elderly population with glaucoma. Our findings highlight the importance of addressing patient concerns and apprehensions regarding visual field testing and emphasize the value of patient-initiated breaks, particularly for individuals experiencing concentration difficulties and physical discomfort.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Glaucoma is a peer reviewed journal addressing the spectrum of issues affecting definition, diagnosis, and management of glaucoma and providing a forum for lively and stimulating discussion of clinical, scientific, and socioeconomic factors affecting care of glaucoma patients.