Impact of special software training on quality of life among people with visual impairment
Purpose: To evaluate the impact of special software training in computer and smartphone apps as a form of rehabilitation to improve the quality of life of individuals with visual impairment (VI). Methods: The study utilized a one-group pretest–posttest design. A total of 50 individuals aged 15 years...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Ophthalmology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2023;volume=71;issue=10;spage=3313;epage=3317;aulast=Bhaskaran |
| _version_ | 1797649271277748224 |
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| author | Sahithya Bhaskaran Pavitra Ravikumar Jeyaseeli Flora P Vijayalakshmi |
| author_facet | Sahithya Bhaskaran Pavitra Ravikumar Jeyaseeli Flora P Vijayalakshmi |
| author_sort | Sahithya Bhaskaran |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: To evaluate the impact of special software training in computer and smartphone apps as a form of rehabilitation to improve the quality of life of individuals with visual impairment (VI). Methods: The study utilized a one-group pretest–posttest design. A total of 50 individuals aged 15 years and older with VI participated in the training, which included special software (NVDA) and mobile app training for 60 hours at the Visual Rehabilitation Center. The Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire was administered before the start of training and six months after completion. The questionnaire covered the following domains: (1) mobility, distance vision, and lighting; (2) reading and fine work; (3) social well-being; (4) economic impact; (5) attitude toward life; and (6) activities of daily living. Statistical software STATA 14.0 (Texas, USA) was used for data analysis. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted to compare the mean differences before and after training. Results: Significant improvements were observed in five dimensions, namely mobility, distance vision and lighting, reading and fine work, and attitude toward life, at a highly significant level of 1% probability. The dimensions of social well-being and economic impact showed significant improvement at a 5% level of probability. Conclusion: Visual impairment, whether congenital or acquired later in life, affects independence in all aspects of life. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the impact of special software training on the quality of life of visually impaired individuals. The authors suggest that this form of rehabilitation enhances accessibility to mainstream living, promotes independence, and ultimately improves quality of life. Participants experienced an improved quality of life through increased access to mainstream resources, enhanced ability to navigate and manage daily activities independently, and reduced reliance on multiple low vision aids or assistance from sighted individuals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:44:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0709cb652f33470184be680c00306f62 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0301-4738 1998-3689 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T15:44:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0709cb652f33470184be680c00306f622023-10-26T06:49:35ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Ophthalmology0301-47381998-36892023-01-0171103313331710.4103/IJO.IJO_73_23Impact of special software training on quality of life among people with visual impairmentSahithya BhaskaranPavitra RavikumarJeyaseeli FloraP VijayalakshmiPurpose: To evaluate the impact of special software training in computer and smartphone apps as a form of rehabilitation to improve the quality of life of individuals with visual impairment (VI). Methods: The study utilized a one-group pretest–posttest design. A total of 50 individuals aged 15 years and older with VI participated in the training, which included special software (NVDA) and mobile app training for 60 hours at the Visual Rehabilitation Center. The Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire was administered before the start of training and six months after completion. The questionnaire covered the following domains: (1) mobility, distance vision, and lighting; (2) reading and fine work; (3) social well-being; (4) economic impact; (5) attitude toward life; and (6) activities of daily living. Statistical software STATA 14.0 (Texas, USA) was used for data analysis. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted to compare the mean differences before and after training. Results: Significant improvements were observed in five dimensions, namely mobility, distance vision and lighting, reading and fine work, and attitude toward life, at a highly significant level of 1% probability. The dimensions of social well-being and economic impact showed significant improvement at a 5% level of probability. Conclusion: Visual impairment, whether congenital or acquired later in life, affects independence in all aspects of life. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the impact of special software training on the quality of life of visually impaired individuals. The authors suggest that this form of rehabilitation enhances accessibility to mainstream living, promotes independence, and ultimately improves quality of life. Participants experienced an improved quality of life through increased access to mainstream resources, enhanced ability to navigate and manage daily activities independently, and reduced reliance on multiple low vision aids or assistance from sighted individuals.http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2023;volume=71;issue=10;spage=3313;epage=3317;aulast=Bhaskarannon-visual desktop access (nvda)quality of life (qol)visual impairment (vi) |
| spellingShingle | Sahithya Bhaskaran Pavitra Ravikumar Jeyaseeli Flora P Vijayalakshmi Impact of special software training on quality of life among people with visual impairment Indian Journal of Ophthalmology non-visual desktop access (nvda) quality of life (qol) visual impairment (vi) |
| title | Impact of special software training on quality of life among people with visual impairment |
| title_full | Impact of special software training on quality of life among people with visual impairment |
| title_fullStr | Impact of special software training on quality of life among people with visual impairment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of special software training on quality of life among people with visual impairment |
| title_short | Impact of special software training on quality of life among people with visual impairment |
| title_sort | impact of special software training on quality of life among people with visual impairment |
| topic | non-visual desktop access (nvda) quality of life (qol) visual impairment (vi) |
| url | http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2023;volume=71;issue=10;spage=3313;epage=3317;aulast=Bhaskaran |
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