A randomised controlled trial of a self-management programme for low vision implemented in low vision rehabilitation services

•A trial of a low vision self-management programme (LVSMP) in low vision services.•Participants randomly allocated to usual services or usual services plus LVSMP.•No significant group differences were found for vision-specific quality of life.•A generic LVSM programme may not adequately meet the needs of a diverse group.•Implications for delivery of LVSMP in practice need to be addressed.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of a low vision self-management programme (LVSMP) in older adults.MethodsParticipants (n = 153) were existing clients of a national low vision rehabilitation organisation randomly allocated to usual services (n = 60) or usual services plus LVSMP (n = 93). The LVSMP was an 8-week group programme facilitated by low vision counsellors. The primary outcome was vision-specific quality of life (QoL) measured using the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes emotional well-being, self-efficacy and adaptation to vision loss were measured using the depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS), general self-efficacy scale (GSES), and short form adaptation to age-related vision loss scale (AVL12).ResultsAt one and six month follow-up assessments, no significant between-group differences were found for vision-specific QoL, emotional well-being, adaptation to vision loss or self-efficacy (p > 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed no impact of the intervention on outcome measures.ConclusionsIn contrast to previous work, our study found limited benefit of a LVSM programme on QoL for older adults accessing low vision services.Practice implicationsWhen implementing self-management programmes in low vision rehabilitation settings, issues of client interest, divergence of need, programme accessibility and fidelity of intervention delivery need to be addressed.