چکیده:
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to describe the experiences of adults with acquired blindness while performing the daily activities of normal life and to investigated the role of environmental factors in this process. Method: A qualitative phenomenological method has been designed for this study. A sample of 22 adults with acquired blindness who were blind for more than 5 years of life were purposefully selected and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with them. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed using van Manen’s method. Results : The five clustered themes that emerged from the interviews included: 1. Products and technology - discusses the benefits and drawbacks of using advanced technology to promote independence 2. Physical environment - “The streets are like an obstacle course” 3. Support and relationships - refers to the assistance that blind people receive from family, friends, and society 4. Attitudes - includes family and social attitudes toward blind people 5. Services and policies - social security, supportive acts, economic factors, educational problems and providing services. Discusion: Findings identify how the daily living activities of blind people are affected by environmental factors and what those factors are. The results will enable occupational therapists and other health care professionals who are involved with blind people to become more competent during assessment, counseling, teaching, giving support, or other interventions as needed to assist blind people. Recommendations for further research include more studies of this population to identify other challenges over time. This would facilitate long-term goals in the care. Studies that include more diversity in demographic characteristics would provide greater generalization. Some characteristics such as adolescent age group, married and single, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status are particularly important to target.
خلاصه ماشینی:
Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, Vol. 8, No. 11, 2010 Original Article Environment and Blindness situation in Iran Soraya askari1; Narges shafaroudi; Mohammad kamali: Mitra khalafbeigy Iran University of medical science, Rehabilitation Research Center, Tehran, Iran Objectives: The purpose of this study is to describe the experiences of adults with acquired blindness while performing the daily activities of normal life and to investigate the role of environmental factors in this process.
Key Words: blindness; activities of daily living; environment Submitted: 07 Feb 2010 Accepted: 02 March 2010 Introduction Vision, for many people, is perhaps the most important sense of all which they rely on to function in daily life.
When people with blindness confront challenges related to education, employment, mobility, and socialization, psychosocial development, use of assistive technology, and mental health, may manifest as denial, anger, fear, or depression.
We expect them to understand our condition more than other people but unfortunately they treat us quite badly…"(10) Participants had some suggestions: "…Print the cost of bills in Braille in one corner or print the books/pamphlets in Braille…"(12) "…Print expiration date of food products in Braille…"(7) "…Prepare more assistive aids for us…"(20) Discussion: The results of this study revealed that what activities blind people do in their daily lives , what difficulties they are dealing with during performing these activities , what services they need and what impacts the environment has for them.
Conclusion: The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of blind people while performing daily living activities.