Interdependence Practice among Elderly People with Severe Cataract Blindness in Malaysia
The Second Malaysian National Eye Survey in 2014 revealed the prevalence of blindness and low vision among the population aged 50 and above in the country as 1.2 % and 5.4 % respectively. The single main cause was cataract and the majority believed they did not need any surgical treatment. They s...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/1447/1/FH03-FP-17-10712.pdf http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/1447/ |
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| Summary: | The Second Malaysian National Eye Survey in 2014 revealed the prevalence of
blindness and low vision among the population aged 50 and above in the country as 1.2 % and
5.4 % respectively. The single main cause was cataract and the majority believed they did not
need any surgical treatment. They seem to have limited awareness and failed to realize that
individuals facing vision loss are at higher risk of falls, injuries, social isolation and depression,
and the heightened effects of other health conditions. Interdependence is the practice of seeking
support through reciprocal relationship and collaboration driven by intentions, activated by
motivation and oriented by one’s cognition resulting in activities that determines the lifestyle
and extent of physical and social activities. Thus, the aim of this study is to understand how
the elderly people with severe cataract blindness in Malaysia could endure their progressive
visual deterioration due to cataract by practicing interdependence. It will enable health
practitioners to effectively advocate and promote earlier cataract surgical treatment to improve
their vision and quality of life (QoL). The objective is to identify how they make sense and
tolerate their progressive loss of vision by an in-depth exploration of their interdependence
practice in actual life situation. It is a qualitative study employing interpretative
phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach in health psychology. The participants consisted of
11 elderly people who are blind in both eyes due to cataract from the states of Terengganu,
Pahang and Kelantan. Utilisation of IPA revealed a superordinate theme of ‘as long as they
could ’ and 3 main themes namely issues regarding maintaining basic living needs,
interpersonal cooperation, and moving about (mobility). This information provides better
understanding on the barriers that is the reasons why these people had not gone for an earlier
cataract surgery. It is pertinent to the various sectors that are directly or indirectly involved in
the eyecare delivery system in Malaysia. Intensifying case detection and patients’ awareness
on cataract by taking advantage of their interdependence practice is an effective way to improve
wellbeing and QoL of the elderly people with cataract. |
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