Article

A pilot study - PURPOSE: To pilot test the newly developed multidisciplinary group rehabilitation
programme Visually Impaired elderly Persons Participating (VIPP). METHOD: A
single group pretest-posttest design pilot study included 29 visually impaired
persons (>/= 55 years). The intervention (20 weekly meetings) consisted of four
components (practical training; education, social interaction, counselling and
training of problem-solving skills; individual and group goal setting; home-based
exercise programme). Participation was assessed with the Utrecht Scale for
Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation (USER-P) and the Impact on
Participation and Autonomy (IPA) questionnaire at baseline, immediately and 6
months after the intervention. RESULTS: At scale level, no statistical
significant changes over time were found whereas the effect size indicated small
effects for restrictions and satisfaction with participation, and a medium effect
for autonomy outdoors. At item level, improvements tended to occur in frequency
of housekeeping, in restrictions in housekeeping and outdoor activities and in
satisfaction with the partner relationship. Satisfaction with leisure indoors and
autonomy regarding using leisure time tended to increase as well. CONCLUSIONS:
The tentative conclusion of this small-scale pilot study is that the VIPP
programme modestly benefits perceived restrictions in participation, satisfaction
with participation and autonomy outdoors of the visually impaired elderly. These
preliminary findings warrant further investigation.

Langue : ANGLAIS