QUALITY OF LIFE OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE

Abstract

Design of the study: Analytic/Exploratory survey.Purpose: To assess the quality of life of visually impaired people who attend the rehabilitation program at a universitary service.Methods : This study was conducted in October and November 2004. Were interviewed sixteen visually impaired teenagers and adults who attended the rehabilitation program: blind (n=10) and low vision (n=6). In order to assess their quality of life, we used the Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL – Bref). SPSS was used and the scores were transformed from 4 to 20. The medians of the scores in each domain were compared and considered significant when p= 0,05 (5%). The Research Ethics Committee approved this investigation. Results : The population of this research consisted of 50% men, aged from 18 to 61 years, with an average of 38 years of age. The evaluation of the different items of the WHOQOL –Bref did not indicate a statistically significant difference between low vision and blind patients. The study pointed out a better quality of life in the psychological and physical aspects (15,66 and 15,14, respectively). In the general questions the global score was 14,00. Conclusion: The results reported a good quality of life perception in the physical and psychological domains and a less perception in the social relationship and environment.