title: Individual's recollections of their experiences in eye clinics and understanding of their eye condition: results from a survey of visually impaired people in Britain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Network 1000 is a UK-based panel survey of a representative sample of adults with registered visual impairment, with the aim of gathering information about people's opinions and circumstances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were interviewed (Survey 1, n = 1007: 2005; Survey 2, n = 922: 2006/07) on a range of topics including the nature of their eye condition, details of other health issues, use of low vision aids (LVAs) and their experiences in eye clinics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven percent of individuals did not know the name of their eye condition. Seventy percent of participants reported having long-term health problems or disabilities in addition to visual impairment and 43% reported having hearing difficulties. Seventy one percent reported using LVAs for reading tasks. Participants who had become registered as visually impaired in the previous 8 years (n = 395) were asked questions about non-medical information received in the eye clinic around that time. Reported information received included advice about 'registration' (48%), low vision aids (45%) and social care routes (43%); 17% reported receiving no information. While 70% of people were satisfied with the information received, this was lower for those of working age (56%) compared with retirement age (72%). Those who recalled receiving additional non-medical information and advice at the time of registration also recalled their experiences more positively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whilst caution should be applied to the accuracy of recall of past events, the data provide a valuable insight into the types of information and support that visually impaired people feel they would benefit from in the eye clinic.
authors.affiliation: Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR), School of Education, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. g.g.a.douglas@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pavey
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eperjesi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006113:United Kingdom; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult