title: Heuristics in primary care for recognition of unreported vision loss in older people: a technology development study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate heuristics (rules of thumb) for recognition of undetected vision loss in older patients in primary care.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Vision loss is associated with ageing, and its prevalence is increasing. Visual impairment has a broad impact on health, functioning and well-being. Unrecognised vision loss remains common, and screening interventions have yet to reduce its prevalence. An alternative approach is to enhance practitioners' skills in recognising undetected vision loss, by having a more detailed picture of those who are likely not to act on vision changes, report symptoms or have eye tests. This paper describes a qualitative technology development study to evaluate heuristics for recognition of undetected vision loss in older patients in primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a previous modelling study, two heuristics in the form of mnemonics were developed to aid pattern recognition and allow general practitioners to identify potential cases of unreported vision loss. These heuristics were then analysed with experts. Findings It was concluded that their implementation in modern general practice was unsuitable and an alternative solution should be sort.
authors.affiliation: 1Honorary Research Fellow,Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health,University College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: Skanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wijeyekoon
authors.affiliation: 2Senior Research Fellow,Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health,University College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: Kalpa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kharicha
authors.affiliation: 3Professor of Primary Care for Older People,Research Department of Primary Care & Population Health,University College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iliffe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000465:Algorithms; D000066506:Heuristics; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: detect vision loss; general practice; heuristic; primary care; rules of thumb; unreported visual loss