title: Factors associated with comfort level of occupational therapy practitioners in providing low vision services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE. We describe the perceived adequacy of educational preparation for and comfort level of occupational therapy practitioners in providing services to clients with low vision and identify factors associated with the practitioners' comfort level. METHOD. One hundred occupational therapists who were not specialists in low vision rehabilitation completed a survey. RESULTS. Fifty-two percent of the respondents perceived that they had received adequate preparation in occupational therapy school to address low vision. Between 54% and 63% of respondents were comfortable performing visual screening and providing interventions for clients with low vision. Multivariable analyses indicated that having received adequate preparation in occupational therapy school, having a partnership with an eye-care professional, and having provided services to a larger percentage of clients with low vision were significantly associated with perceived comfort in providing services to this population. CONCLUSION. Findings provide an initial direction to improve low vision content in occupational therapy education curricula.
authors.affiliation: Sandra Winner, MS, OTR/L, is Occupational Therapist, Laurels Low Vision Clinic, Asheville, NC.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winner
authors.affiliation: Hon K.Yuen, PhD, OTR/L, is Professor and Director of Research, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 Second Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294; yuen@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Hon K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.affiliation: Laura K. Vogtle, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor and Director, Postprofessional Master's Program, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
authors.forename: Laura K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Vogtle
authors.affiliation: Mary Warren, PhD, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA, is Associate Professor and Director, Graduate Certificate Low Vision Rehabilitation, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014787:Vision Tests; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*