title: Access to low-vision rehabilitation services: barriers and enablers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current mismatch between the need for and uptake of low-vision services has been attributed to various barriers including different service delivery models and referral pathways. This study evaluates the referral pathway and low-vision service provision of the Royal Society for the Blind (RSB) in South Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  All new referrals from the 2008-2009 financial year to the RSB were reviewed. Initially, patients were contacted by a triage officer within one week of referral. Initial appointments were made in the Low Vision Clinic with a multidisciplinary team. Reasons for declining the appointment or non-attendance were tracked via telephone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 1116 patients referred over a 12-month period and 1082 (97 per cent) were reviewed in the Low Vision Clinic. Most attendees (92 per cent) lived within 50 kilometres of the clinic. There were 34 referred patients, who declined or did not attend the assessment. All non-attendees also lived within 50 kilometres of the Low Vision Centre. Concurrent major health problems (27 per cent) and patients not feeling the need for low-vision rehabilitation (27 per cent) were the most common reasons for not accessing the service. Only 125 patients (11.6 per cent) accessed volunteer transport services and only 24 patients (2.2 per cent) needed an interpreter service.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The attendance rate is significantly higher than in other published studies. The distance to travel or transport difficulties were not significant barriers. Patient perception that either the service was not required or would not help them was the main barrier. The referral and triage process appeared to be a major enabler of low-vision service uptake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Albert I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Matti
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pesudovs
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Celia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012955:Societies, Medical; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult