[Diagnosis of visual impairment: information requirements for health professionals].

Abstract

For some years now, the Braille League has been thinking about ways of improving information of the public with visual impairment about the assistance and services that it can seek. The conclusion that this information was inadequate was highlighted by all those in charge of assisting people with disabilities. As one of the key moments is the announcement of the diagnosis, the association wanted to contact health professionals in order to measure the level of information in their possession and pass on their expectations. Two approaches were used. First, there was a questionnaire that ophthalmologists completed at the Ophtalmologica Belgica 2010 conference. The topics raised were very diverse: their professional context, conditions of announcement, information given to patients, information requested by patients, and their wishes for the future. Moreover, semi-structured interviews enabled various areas of the study to be examined in greater depth: definition of impairment, conditions of announcement of the diagnosis, non-medical aspects, conclusion about lack of information and avenues for improvement. This study confirmed that ophthalmologists lack information on the subject of the psychosocial components of disability and have poor awareness of the existing aids and services. After the presentation of the results, a series of recommendations was made so that the announcement of the diagnosis could be optimal, so as to enable patients to embark on a process of adaptation and acceptance of their visual impairment.