Table 2 Barriers and facilitators in the referral pathways to low vision services from the perspective of professionals and patients
Level | Barriers/Facilitators | Professionals | Patients |
|---|---|---|---|
Individual Level | Motivation |  + , −  |  +  |
Self-advocacy |  + , −  |  +  | |
Experienced impact of the VI |  + , −  |  +  | |
Participation needs |  + , −  |  +  | |
Attitude regarding asking for help and seeking healthcare |  −  |  | |
Disease duration |  + , −  |  | |
Lack of awareness and knowledge of LVS |  −  |  | |
Acceptance of the VI |  + , −  |  −  | |
Other individual factors (Cultural background, unawareness of the eye disease, overall health condition and other private circumstances) |  −  |  | |
Interpersonal Level | Information provision LVS |  + , −  |  + , −  |
Communication skills/strategies healthcare professionals |  +  |  + , −  | |
Social support |  + , −  |  +  | |
Length of patient-provider relationship |  + , −  |  +  | |
Other sources of LVS information |  +  |  +  | |
Organizational level | Communication between health professionals |  −  |  |
Cooperation between providers |  +  |  | |
Care coordination |  −  |  | |
Low vision optometric services |  +  |  | |
Time constraints ophthalmic practice |  −  |  −  | |
Community Level | Fear of stigma |  −  |  |
Distance to LVS/Transportation |  −  |  + , −  | |
Education of healthcare providers of LVS |  +  |  | |
Public policy level | Dutch healthcare system |  + , −  |  +  |
Regional service provision |  +  |  | |
Long waiting lists |  −  |  |