Low vision simulator goggles in pharmacy education.
OBJECTIVE
To develop simulator goggles that produce disease-specific characteristics of selected low vision conditions for use in pharmacy education.


METHODS
Individual sets of simulator goggles were developed for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. Students rated the presence and severity of disease-specific characteristics after wearing each pair of goggles while manipulating medication-related materials.


RESULTS
One hundred students completed the study. Characteristic symptoms for each disease state were experienced at a moderate to severe level (p < 0.0001). Subjects indicated a high level of agreement among symptom ratings for each disease (Kendall's coefficient = 0.82).


CONCLUSIONS
Low vision simulator goggles reliably produced the characteristics of selected conditions experienced in a medication management environment. Further studies are needed to identify suitable patient-centered learning activities using these goggles.
Zagar
Michelle
M
College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71201, USA. zagar@ulm.edu
Baggarly
Scott
S
D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000175:diagnosis*
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