Background & objectives: Uncorrected refractive error and cataract are the two most common causes of impairment of vision among elderly persons, and both are treatable. Treatment-seeking in patients is driven by symptom (decreased vision) rather than any anatomical or physiological measurement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the treatment-seeking behavior and barriers to treatment-seeking among elderly persons with impairment of vision in an urban resettlement colony of New Delhi, India.
Methods: This community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 604 persons aged ≥60 yr selected by the simple random sampling. House-to-house visit was done, and a self-developed pretested semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect socio-demographic information, treatment-seeking behaviour and barriers to treatment-seeking.
Results: Majority of participants reported impairment of vision (84%); 16.5 per cent of them did not visit any healthcare facility for their vision problem. Lack of felt need (48.1%) was the most common barrier to visiting healthcare facility. Of the 401 participants who gave a history of being prescribed spectacles, 277 (69%) used spectacles. Discomfort, lack of improvement in vision and lack of felt need were the most common reasons cited for non-usage. Among 300 participants who gave a history of cataract, 61 (20.3%) had not undergone cataract surgery. Lack of felt need was the most common barrier to cataract surgery.
Interpretation & conclusions: A substantial proportion of elderly persons in the urban community have impairment of vision. Lack of felt need was the main reason for not visiting healthcare facility. As quality of spectacles was an important reported deterrent to use of spectacles, provision of appropriate refraction services and low-cost, good quality spectacles would be important.
Keywords: Barriers; cataract; elderly; impairment of vision; spectacles; treatment-seeking.