Interventions to improve functioning, participation, and quality of life in children with visual impairment: A systematic review
Publication year
2019Author(s)
Number of pages
46 p.
Source
Survey of Ophthalmology, 64, 4, (2019), pp. 512-557ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
SW OZ BSI OLO
Rehabilitation
Journal title
Survey of Ophthalmology
Volume
vol. 64
Issue
iss. 4
Languages used
English (eng)
Page start
p. 512
Page end
p. 557
Subject
All institutes and research themes of the Radboud University Medical Center; Learning and Plasticity; Radboudumc 3: Disorders of movement DCMN: Donders Center for Medical NeuroscienceAbstract
Visual impairment in childhood often has lifelong implications. In order to aim for the highest levels of functioning, participation and quality of life and to ensure children's wellbeing, children should be entitled to the most effective rehabilitation programs. We review evidence for the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions for children with visual impairment to improve skills and behavior, thereby improving participation and quality of life as an ultimate goal. Of the 441 potentially relevant articles identified, 66 studies met our inclusion criteria (i.e. 28 randomized controlled trials [RCTs], 18 non-RCTs, and 20 before-after comparisons [BAs]). The results suggest that sports camps, prescription and training in the use of low vision devices and oral hygiene programs might be effective in improving functioning and elements of participation and quality of life in children with visual impairment. Other interventions showed mixed or negative results. The results should be interpreted with caution because of moderate to high risk of bias and suboptimal reporting. Heterogeneity of results and the use of over 50 different outcome measures prevented a meta-analysis. Future studies should focus on promising interventions for which effectiveness is still unclear (e.g. mobility, social skills), with adequately designed methodology.
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Academic publications [227942]
- Electronic publications [107434]
- Faculty of Medical Sciences [86237]
- Faculty of Social Sciences [28476]
- Open Access publications [76544]
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