Author’s Disclosure Block: Tyler Herod, none; Sarah Jennings, none; Victoria Taylor, none; Anuradha Mishra, none

Abstract Body
Purpose: It is well understood that individuals living with vision impairment face unique barriers in accessing health care. While there has been recent emphasis to prioritize accessible and equitable healthcare for all, health disparities continue to persist for those living with vision impairment. Presently, only a small percentage of healthcare providers receive formal education on caring for patients living with visual impairments, and hospitals are adopting new technologies that lack accessible features. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers that exist within healthcare institutions for individuals living with sight loss to inform on how changes can be made to improve their experience in accessing healthcare. 

Study Design: This study comprised of one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Participants were individuals living with sight loss in Nova Scotia that have accessed care at a healthcare facility in the province and were over18 years old. The study was approved by the Nova Scotia Health Research Ethics Board.

Methods: Participants were recruited through advertisement for the study in collaboration with the CNIB. Interviews were conducted using Microsoft Teams between June and October 2024. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Members of the research team independently grouped data into themes. Themes were then collectively reviewed, refined, and reconciled the themes with several iterations taking place until full consensus was met. 

Results: A total of seven interviews were completed, with two major themes emerging. The first theme was that healthcare institutions commonly impose barriers stemming from a lack of universal design principles, such as electronic self-check-in kiosks for appointment registration, signage lacking brail or high-contrast fonts, waiting rooms that rely on a “take a number” system, and elevators lacking audio overlays. The second theme was that barriers often stem from unconscious ableism. For those that had been admitted, references were commonly made to employees entering rooms unannounced and under the assumption that they can be seen, leading to problems with things such as the delivery of food, as well as induced anxiety around the adjustment of IV lines or administration of medications. 

Conclusions: A variety of modifiable barriers exist within healthcare institutions that continue to make accessing health care daunting for individuals with vision impairment. Greater emphasis should be placed on implementing accessible options within healthcare institutions. Additionally, more education needs to be provided to healthcare providers around awareness and best practices on individuals with vision impairment.