248170 Reasons adults with moderate-to-severe visual impairment did not seek eye care in the preceding 12 months

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 5:30 PM

Chiu-Fang Chou, Dr PH , The Vision Health Initiative, Division of Diabetes Translation/The Ginn Group, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Xinzhi Zhang , National Vision Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
John E. Crews, DPA , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Lawrence Barker, PhD , Etiology and Surveillance Branch, CDC, NCIPC, Division of Violence Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Jinan B. Saaddine, MD, MPH , National Vision Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Objective: To examine the reasons given by adults aged >40 years with moderate to severe visual impairment (VI) for not visiting an eye care provider in the preceding 12 months.

Method: We used 2006-2009 BRFSS data from 21 states (n=11,503) to examine the main reasons, among adults aged ≥ 40 with moderate to severe VI, for not visiting an eye care provider in the preceding year using multivariate logistic regressions.

Results: "Cost or lack of insurance" was the main reason for 40% and "no reason to go" was the main reason for 27%. Other reasons given were "have not thought of it" (8%), no transportation (2%), could not get appointment (2%), do not have eye doctor" (1%) and other (20%). After controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, education, health insurance, and eye disease, adults aged 40-64 were more likely than older adults (OR=2.95; 95% CI=2.18, 4.01) and women were more likely than men (OR=1.78; 95% CI=1.48, 2.14) to have "cost or lack of insurance" as their main reason. However, people age ≥ 65 were more likely than those aged 40-64 to have "no reason to go" (OR=2.21; 95% CI=1.72, 2.83) as their main reason.

Conclusion: Among U.S. adults aged ≥ 40 with moderate to severe VI, "cost or lack of insurance" and "no reason to go" were the main reasons for not seeking eye care. Understanding and addressing the reasons could help shape national, state, and local vision health policy and create effective intervention programs to improve vision health.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention

Learning Objectives:
1. To Identify the relationship between “cost or lack of insurance” and “no reason to go” both factors and variables affecting people with visual impairment access to eye care. 2. To Describe differences in access to eye care for people with visual impairment; 3. To discuss successful interventions for adults with visual impairment to access to eye care.

Keywords: Access to Care, Vision Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted and led this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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