Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26908153›Full record

Trial reportTrials2016

Effect of rehabilitation worker input on visual function outcomes in individuals with low vision: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Jennifer H Acton, Bablin Molik, Alison Binns, Helen Court, Tom H Margrain

Open access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Trials, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 31% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Jennifer H ActonSchool of Optometry & Vision Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK. actonj@cardiff.ac.uk.
Bablin MolikSchool of Optometry & Vision Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK. MolikBN@cardiff.ac.uk.
Alison BinnsSchool of Optometry & Vision Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK. alison.binns.1@city.ac.uk.
Helen CourtSchool of Optometry & Vision Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK.
Tom H MargrainSchool of Optometry & Vision Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, Wales, UK.
Cardiff University · GBCity, University of London · GBGartnavel General Hospital · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVisual Rehabilitation Officers help people with a visual impairment maintain their independence. This intervention adopts a flexible, goal-centred approach, which may include training in mobility, use of optical and non-optical aids, and performance of activities of daily living. Although Visual Rehabilitation Officers are an integral part of the low vision service in the United Kingdom, evidence that they are effective is lacking. The purpose of this exploratory trial is to estimate the impact of a Visual Rehabilitation Officer on self-reported visual function, psychosocial and quality-of-life outcomes in individuals with low vision. METHODS/

designIn this exploratory, assessor-masked, parallel group, randomised controlled trial, participants will be allocated either to receive home visits from a Visual Rehabilitation Officer (n = 30) or to a waiting list control group (n = 30) in a 1:1 ratio. Adult volunteers with a visual impairment, who have been identified as needing rehabilitation officer input by a social worker, will take part. Those with an urgent need for a Visual Rehabilitation Officer or who have a cognitive impairment will be excluded. The primary outcome measure will be self-reported visual function (48-item Veterans Affairs Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire). Secondary outcome measures will include psychological and quality-of-life metrics: the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), the Adjustment to Age-related Visual Loss Scale (AVL-12), the Standardised Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D) and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. The interviewer collecting the outcomes will be masked to the group allocations. The analysis will be undertaken on a complete case and intention-to-treat basis. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) will be applied to follow-up questionnaire scores, with the baseline score as a covariate. DISCUSSION: This trial is expected to provide robust effect size estimates of the intervention effect. The data will be used to design a large-scale randomised controlled trial to evaluate fully the Visual Rehabilitation Officer intervention. A rigorous evaluation of Rehabilitation Officer input is vital to direct a future low vision rehabilitation strategy and to help direct government resources.

trial registrationThe trial was registered with ( ISRCTN44807874 ) on 9 March 2015.

Indexed as

Activities of Daily LivingCommunity Health WorkersHouse CallsVision, OcularAdaptation, PsychologicalHumansIndependent LivingMobility LimitationPersons with Visual DisabilitiesQuality of LifeResearch DesignSocial ParticipationSurveys and QuestionnairesTime FactorsVision, LowWales

Identifiers

PMID26908153
PMCPMC4765130
OpenAlexW2276199411

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.