Abstract
This qualitative study used semistructured interviews to investigate vision rehabilitation interdisciplinary care between OTs and optometrists. Findings describe the value of and barriers to interprofessional collaboration.
Primary Author and Speaker: Brenna Clowney
Additional Authors and Speakers: Brittnee Livingston
Contributing Authors: Caitlyn Foy, Mitchell Scheiman, Meghan Brems
Optometrists and occupational therapists are healthcare providers who can provide remedial vision rehabilitation services to treat visual efficiency (binocular vision, accommodative, eye movement problems) that affect individuals across the lifespan (Richard, 2022); however, literature investigating their collaboration and practice patterns are scarce (Mun & Syracusa, 2024; Reiser et al. 2020). A qualitative study that utilized online, semi-structured interviews with occupational therapists and optometrists specializing in remedial vision rehabilitation-based interventions will be presented. Ten consenting optometrists and twelve occupational therapists participated in this IRB-approved study. Inductive coding analysis identified themes and subthemes from open codes. The findings suggest increasing interdisciplinary awareness, interprofessional education at the graduate program level, and effective interdisciplinary practice between occupational therapy and optometry can increase access to remedial vision rehabilitation services and increase patient outcomes. Remedial vision rehabilitation services should be more accessible to the public, and there is a need for both continued advocacy for optometrists on inpatient rehabilitation teams, and increased opportunities for optometrists to collaborate with occupational therapists about vision dysfunction treatment. This course’s impact on practitioners will increase awareness of remedial vision practice patterns, interprofessional education, and collaborative methods to improve patient QOL outcomes. Remedial vision rehabilitation is an emerging practice area that occupational therapists should be leading alongside optometry. Attendees will engage in a Q&A following the presentation and discuss strategies to apply to their practice.
Mun, J., & Syracusa, V. A. (2024). Vision evaluation processes described by pediatric occupational therapists: A qualitative study. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2024.2351482
Reiser, A., Bunin, G., & Scheiman, M. (2020). Concussion-Related Vision Disorder Practice Patterns in Occupational Therapy: A Survey. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 8(4), 1+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A643530113/AONE?u=nysl_oweb&sid=googleScholar&xid=e00ca5d9
Richard, M. (2022). Know the Top Three Binocular Vision Disorders. Optometrist Management, 57(September 2022). Retrieved from https://optometricmanagement.com/issues/2022/september/know-the-top-three-binocular-vision-disorders/