Enhancing Interprofessional Rehabilitation Team Competence through Low Vision Continuing Education

ABSTRACT

Aim: Although low vision affects occupational performance and quality of life, healthcare professionals demonstrate limited competence regarding training adaptive living skills to the low vision client. This program examined the effects of conducting low vision continuing education on enhancing an interprofessional rehabilitation team's competence levels with aspects to training low vision clientele. Methods: Using a 6-week multi-faceted approach, eight continuum-of-care retirement community rehabilitation practitioners completed a 6-hour continuing education program. Self-developed pre- and post-program surveys measured the changes in practitioner competence with low vision adaptive concepts. Perceptions about the impact of low vision intervention techniques were also explored. Results: Practitioners experienced a 40.5% improvement in low vision competence and demonstrated a 201.9% increase in perceived activity performance after low vision techniques application. Positive changes in clinical practices were also reported. Conclusion: Instituting a low vision continuing education program can enhance practitioners' competence about service provision to clientele with low vision.

KEYWORDS:

• Low vision
• continuing education
• interprofessional team
• geriatric rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Kelli Martz and Jared Baxter, Facility Administrators, throughout the program implantation. A special thanks to Christine Mull for assisting with participant recruitment.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.