Vision-related quality of life in patients with complete homonymous hemianopia post stroke.

PURPOSE: The aim is to determine the characteristics of vision-specific quality of life restriction using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) and Veterans Affairs Low Vision Visual Function Questionnaire (VA LV VFQ-48) in patients with complete homonymous hemianopia (HH) post stroke. METHOD: Prospective cohort study of patients with complete HH compared to age- and gender-matched subjects with normal visual fields. RESULTS: In the NEI VFQ-25, scores on five subscales were significantly reduced after multiple logistic regression accounting for vision and comorbidities. The five subscales are vision-specific social functioning, vision-specific mental health, vision-specific dependency, driving, and peripheral vision. In the VA LV VFQ-48 postregression analysis, mobility is the only domain that is significantly affected in the people with HH. CONCLUSION: Identification of the significant areas of visual difficulties and their effects on quality of life is important as it can help better address the patients' rehabilitation needs. The current study identifies the need for orientation and mobility training as well as independent living rehabilitation in patients with HH to help address the difficulties in their vision-specific quality of life and maximize their residual vision.

South Australian school teachers' perceptions of occupational therapy reports.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The qualitative research reported here investigated the perceptions of primary school teachers regarding the usefulness of occupational therapy reports from the Flinders Medical Centre. The reports included either recommendations alone or in conjunction with written programs for the students. METHODS: This qualitative descriptive study employed in-depth semistructured interviews to gather the perspectives of four school teachers from primary schools in the southern suburbs of Adelaide. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analysed using a thematic inductive approach. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the data in relation to teachers' perceptions of the reports: (i) Understandable but not always useful; (ii) It's important ... we can't do it all; (iii) We never actually speak; and (iv) It's probably impossible but ... in an ideal world. CONCLUSIONS: The research findings provide an insight into the professional relationship between education and health professionals in the presence of minimal collaboration. The participants in this study described the occupational therapy reports as useful but they all wanted a higher level of interaction with therapists. The participants also gave suggestions for improving the current procedure to increase collaboration between health and education professionals. Such improvements could enhance educational outcomes for South Australian children with a disability.