title: The Prevalence and Determinants of Desire for and Use of Psychological Support in Patients With Low Vision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and determinants of desire for and use of psychological support in patients with low vision.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was cross-sectional, utilizing telephone-administered interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were recruited from Vision Australia and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital with visual acuity of less than 6/12 in the better eye. Measures were the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, Stigma Scale for Receiving Psychological Help, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Impact of Vision Impairment Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total 161 participants (mean ± SD, 69.94 ± 15.76 years; 67% female), 63% desired psychological support, but only 20% reported ever receiving this. Higher levels of depressive symptoms and poorer coping in relation to vision impairment were significantly associated with desire for psychological support. Younger age, experience/s of depression, and beliefs about depression and its treatment were associated with use of professional support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many patients with low vision desired psychological support but were not receiving this, suggesting barriers to receipt of care. This highlights the need for early screening of emotional difficulties, depression education, and easy access to psychological support within low vision services.
authors.affiliation: From the *Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Australia; and †Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore; and ‡Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Bonnie A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sturrock
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Edith E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: Ecosse L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lamoureux
authors.forename: Jill E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Keeffe
authors.forename: Eva K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.forename: Gwyneth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rees